A fight between parliamentarians broke out in Chile’s Congress on Tuesday, a development that further increases tension in the country, four days before a referendum is held on whether or not to approve the draft of the new Constitution.
Far-right lawmaker Gonzalo de la Carrera punched the right eye of Radical Party Vice President Alexis Sepulveda (center left) amid protests during a congressional session in Valparaiso (central Chile).
“I saw a colleague being verbally attacked (by Gonzalo de la Carrera), I thought that was not appropriate and I asked this deputy not to be so aggressive, to which he reacted violently,” Mr Sepulveda told the press, adding how he received “a punch and a few kicks”.
For his part, Mr De la Carrera admitted attacking Mr Sepulveda, but claimed the centre-left parliamentarian attacked him first, hitting him “with his chest” causing “me to defend myself”.
The far-right MP opposes the draft Constitution proposed in Chile.
His actions were denounced by his colleagues, he was subsequently reported to the House Ethics Committee and expelled from the Republican Party.
The scandal in Congress is recorded against the background of the escalation of tension in the country. Over the weekend, supporters and opponents of the new Constitution clashed in the center of the capital Santiago. At least one person was injured.
More than fifteen million voters in Chile are called to the polls on Sunday in a referendum in which they will have to approve or reject the new Constitution, which will replace the current one, a legacy of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). Participation in the process is mandatory.
If the proposed text is rejected, the current one—several provisions of which have been amended in the context of the ten or so review processes since the restoration of democracy—will remain in place.
SOURCE: AMPE
Source: Capital
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