Chile kicks off Constitutional Assembly campaign

Candidates kicked off a campaign in Chile on Saturday to be elected as part of the 155 drafters of a new constitution in a two day process to be held on May 15-16.

In 2020, close to 80 percent of Chileans voted out the previous constitution, written during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, ruling out any of the current lawmakers to be part of the Constitutional Assembly.

Some of the new candidates said they are looking to start grassroots campaigns, and are open to hear ideas directly from people in neighborhoods.

Aside from the Constitutional Assembly, Chileans will elect mayors, regional governors and municipality officials.

The creation of the new constitution and the elections of the members of the Constitutional Assembly comes after more than a year of massive protests against social inequality, and 40 years after the Constitution was established.