Chileans voted overwhelmingly in a landmark referendum Sunday to replace their dictatorship-era constitution, long seen as underpinning the nation's glaring economic and social inequalities.

Workers disinfect a polling station in Santiago for Sunday's referendum on changing Chile's Pinochet-era constitution
Workers disinfect a polling station in Santiago for Sunday's referendum on changing Chile's Pinochet-era constitution AFP / PEDRO UGARTE

The result set off wild celebrations across the capital and other cities after voters threw out the constitution left by the regime of 1973-1990 dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Thousands of people flocked onto the streets of Santiago amid a cacophony of horn-blaring to celebrate a crushing victory for the "Approve" campaign -- by 78.28 percent to 21.72 with over 99 percent of the votes counted.

A demonstrator is sprayed by water cannon during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government in Santiago ahead of Sunday's referendum
A demonstrator is sprayed by water cannon during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government in Santiago ahead of Sunday's referendum AFP / MARTIN BERNETTI

"I never imagined that us Chileans would be capable of uniting for such a change!" said a jubilant Maria Isabel Nunez, 46, as she walked in the crowd hand-in-hand with her 20-year-old daughter.

Acknowledging the result, President Sebastian Pinera called on the nation to work together for a "new constitution" in a speech broadcast from his Moneda Palace surrounded by his cabinet.

Polling stations are being disinfected and will stay open two hours longer than usual to avoid overcrowding due to the coronavirus pandemic which has hit Chile hard
Polling stations are being disinfected and will stay open two hours longer than usual to avoid overcrowding due to the coronavirus pandemic which has hit Chile hard AFP / Martin BERNETTI

"This plebiscite is not the end, it is the beginning of a path that we must all walk together to agree on a new constitution for Chile," Pinera said.

Voting in Santiago, Chile in a referendum on the dictatorship-era constitution
Voting in Santiago, Chile in a referendum on the dictatorship-era constitution AFP / PEDRO UGARTE

"Until now, the constitution has divided us. From today we must all work together so that the new constitution is the great framework of unity, stability and the future."

Soldiers carry a woman on a wheelchair at a Santiago polling station during the constitutional referendum vote
Soldiers carry a woman on a wheelchair at a Santiago polling station during the constitutional referendum vote AFP / JAVIER TORRES

The result comes as a slap in the face for Chile's political class, according to Marcelo Mella, a political scientist at the University of Santiago.

"Such a strong vote in favor of the constitutional convention should be read as a rejection of the political parties, which to a large extent have been administrators of Pinochet's Constitution, of the regime we inherited from him," Mella told AFP.

Chileans in neighboring Peru lined up to cast ballots on the constitutional referendum at their country's embassy in Lima
Chileans in neighboring Peru lined up to cast ballots on the constitutional referendum at their country's embassy in Lima AFP / ERNESTO BENAVIDES

Earlier, in long, orderly lines across Santiago and in cities around the country, masked voters shuffled patiently towards polling stations to participate in the historic referendum.

Chileans are asked two questions on the ballot: to approve or reject a new constitution, and if necessary, what kind of body should draft it -- a mixed assembly composed equally of lawmakers and citizens, or a 155-member convention of citizens
Chileans are asked two questions on the ballot: to approve or reject a new constitution, and if necessary, what kind of body should draft it -- a mixed assembly composed equally of lawmakers and citizens, or a 155-member convention of citizens AFP / JAVIER TORRES

The vote came a year to the day after more than one million people thronged downtown Santiago amidst a wave of social unrest that left 30 people dead and thousands wounded.

The sheer size of the October 25 march demonstrated the breadth of social discontent and proved a tipping point in demonstrators' demands for a referendum.

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, 70, has not come out publicly for either side in the campaign, and his conservative coalition is divided on changing the constitution
Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, 70, has not come out publicly for either side in the campaign, and his conservative coalition is divided on changing the constitution AFP / CLAUDIO REYES

Within weeks, Pinera had agreed to initiate a process to draft a new constitution, beginning with a referendum to decide the fate of the current text.

"I am full of hope that things will change and that we will bring a radical turnaround in this country," said Romina Nunez, 42, a poll organizer at the National Stadium in Santiago, the country's biggest polling center.

Thousands voted at the vast stadium, which achieved infamy as a detention center where military regime opponents were tortured.

Elias Perez, a 39-year-old psychologist, said he wanted to give the place another meaning as he prepared to vote for change in a place rich with symbolism.

"To be able to exercise the right to vote in a space of profound pain, where there were systematic violations of the human rights of many fellow Chileans, and be able to generate change in this same space -- is a symbolic way of paying honor and tribute to all those who are no longer with us," he said.

Demand for a new constitution had been a recurring theme of the protests, set off by a hike in public transport fares.

They rapidly turned into widespread demonstrations against social and economic inequalities -- encompassing health, education, housing and pensions -- inherited from Pinochet's rule.

For those supporting change, the constitution is an obstacle to meaningful social reforms, and a new one is necessary to provide more equitable access to private health care, education and pension systems.

The new constitution would expand the role of the state in providing a welfare safety net, ensuring basic rights to health, education, water distribution and pensions.

Many conservatives, however, say the constitution has been key to Chile's decades of economic growth and stability, and a greater state role would add pressure on an economy struggling to emerge from the Covid-19 health crisis.

Chile surpassed 500,000 Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with nearly 14,000 deaths.

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