Swiss voters approved a plan to raise pensions, marking the first time in the country's history that social benefits received an increase through a plebiscite. The proposal to introduce a 13th annual payout to pensioners was supported by 58.2% of the electorate, while a second initiative to raise the retirement age was rejected. The approval, which will increase pensions by about 8%, is set to send the government scrambling to find the estimated additional annual cost of 4.1 billion Swiss francs, likely requiring an increase in value-added tax.
Chileans have voted against a new conservative constitution, opting to keep the current 1980 constitution in place. The rejection is seen as a bittersweet result for Chile's progressives and leftwing government, as it means the constitutional question remains unresolved. The proposed constitution contained controversial clauses that threatened women's rights, including access to safe abortions. The vote reflects the ongoing political uncertainty in Chile and the need for a more inclusive approach to constitutional reform.
Chile's right wing has presented a draft conservative constitution that could replace the current Pinochet-era charter. The draft, drawn up by a council led by the far-right Republican party, has raised concerns as it threatens access to abortion, curbs the right to collective strike action, and reduces the number of deputies in Chile's congress. Leftwing president Gabriel Boric has called for a plebiscite on the proposal, marking a significant shift from the previously rejected progressive constitution. The new draft, like its predecessor, fails to mention Indigenous Chileans despite their significant population.
