Non-Neutral Independents

Political party in Chile

Non-Neutral Independents (Spanish: Independientes No Neutrales) is a loose coalition of independent candidates that was created in Chile to participate in the 2021 elections for members of the Constitutional Convention.[2][3][4]

History

It was established on 25 August 2020[5] by a group of civil society citizens, including Agustín Squella, Benito Baranda, Andrea Repetto, Rodrigo Jordán, Heinrich von Baer and Eduardo Engel, with the intention of supporting the options "Approve" and "Constitutional Convention" in the plebiscite of the same year. They expressed that "a new Constitution is needed to define the bases of an updated institutionality, with a modern chapter of duly guaranteed fundamental rights, a balanced and transparent national, regional and communal political regime, a recognition of the plurinational character of the country, a greater and effective decentralization, and a review of its constitutional justice".[4]

After the referendum, the group began to make its list of candidates for the Constitutional Convention, led by Benito Baranda, and it also began to gather the necessary signatures to confirm its legality for the election.[6] Among its candidates there were more than 30 people from different regions of Chile, including the journalist Patricia Politzer and the constitutional lawyer Miriam Henríquez.[7][8]

To facilitate the participation of independent candidates in the elections for the Constitutional Convention, the movement has requested that legal changes be made to reduce the number of signatures required to sponsor independent candidates, facilitate said sponsorship by means of a digital signature and allow the formation of agreements between independents. Its efforts include participation in Senate committees where these legislative reforms are discussed.[9]

Composition

The group submitted lists of independent candidates in 21 of the 28 electoral districts. The names used by the Non-Neutral Independent lists varied by district:[10][11]

  • «Independientes por la Nueva Constitución», meaning «Independents for the New Constitution» (districts 4, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, 22, 23, 24 y 25)
  • «Independientes por una Nueva Constitución», meaning «Independents for a New Constitution» (districts 1, 7, 9, 12 y 21)
  • «Independientes del Norte Grande por una Nueva Constitución», meaning «Independents of the Great North for a New Constitution» (district 3)
  • «Independientes y Movimientos Sociales del Apruebo», meaning «Independents and Social Movements of Approval» (district 8)
  • «Independientes de Ñuble por la Nueva Constitución», meaning «Independents of Ñuble for the New Constitution» (district 19)
  • «Independientes del Biobío por una Nueva Constitución», meaning «Independents of Biobío for a New Constitution» (district 20)
  • «Independientes Nueva Constitución», meaning «New Constitution Independents» (district 26)
  • «Magallánicos No Neutrales» (district 28)

References

  1. ^ Magnet, Odette. "Chile begins 'beautiful challenge' of drafting new constitution". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 5 July 2021. Meanwhile, some assembly members who define themselves as "non-neutral independents" – and who make up an important, centre-left bloc – say they "will not take orders from political parties nor instructions from any government, parliamentarians or interference from any pressure group that intends to instrumentalise the constituent process".
  2. ^ "Quienes somos". Independientes No Neutrales (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Baranda: Independientes No Neutrales no pretende ser una "plataforma aséptica e impecable"". Pauta.cl (in Spanish). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Agustín Squella, Heinrich von Baer, Benito Baranda Eduardo Engel y un llamativo listado de personas conformaron "Independientes por el apruebo"". g5noticias.cl (in Spanish). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. ^ Gutiérrez, María José (17 October 2020). "La hora de los independientes". Diario Financiero (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Benito Baranda encabeza lista de candidatos para la Convención Constitucional de Independientes No Neutrales". Pauta.cl (in Spanish). 2 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Patricia Politzer confirmó candidatura a la Convención Constitucional: "Podemos cambiar Chile"". CNN Chile (in Spanish). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  8. ^ Mercier, Mario (15 November 2020). "De cara al proceso constituyente: ¿Quiénes son los abogados constitucionalistas más influyentes?". El Mercurio (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  9. ^ Senado de la República de Chile. "Sesión Comisión de Constitución" (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Independientes No Neutrales inscribe a 105 candidatos para la elección de convencionales". El Mostrador (in Spanish). 13 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ^ Servicio Electoral de Chile (23 January 2021). "ACEPTA Y RECHAZA CANDIDATURAS AL CARGO DE CONVENCIONAL CONSTITUYENTE DECLARADAS POR PARTIDOS POLÍTICOS, PACTOS ENTRE PARTIDOS POLÍTICOS, LISTAS ENTRE INDEPENDIENTES E INDEPENDIENTES FUERA DE LISTA" (PDF). Diario Oficial de la República de Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2021.

External links

  • Official site
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Senate
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Political coalitions
Notes:123Numbers denote party membership of Political Coalitions, 1 is for Chile Vamos, 2 is for the Democratic Socialism, 3 is for the Apruebo Dignidad.