Chile’s presidentialism under question

This paper analyses how a rather long-lasting crisis of representation in Chile, which led to widespread and intense street protests in October 2019, set off a process of constitution making that may dramatically change presidential power. Specifically, the paper is be divided in four sections. First, it will examine the crisis of representation’s main sources and how Chile’s presidentialism may (or may not) have been a direct cause of it. Second, it will analyse whether political power has been historically concentrated in the chief executive as many have claimed. Chile’s alleged hyperpresidentialism has been singled out as one the country’s most pressing issues that need restructuring. Third, the paper will discuss the different courses of actions proposed by politicians and scholars about whether keeping or doing away with the country’s current presidential system and the final decision reached by the Constitutional Convention. The final section will offer an assessment of the changes introduced to Chile’s form of government and presidential power, and whether these reforms may help to assuage the still ongoing crisis of representation.