My name is Cecilia Mackenna. Since my early days I had a strong interest in politics and in international relations. After studying Philosophy, I joined the Chilean Diplomatic Corp and started as diplomat. This meant having a very interesting professional life, representing Chile in several countries. After postgraduate studies, I had my first diplomatic post in Bonn, Germany. Over the years, I served in London (UK), United Nations, (NYC and Geneva), the ILO (Geneva). Since named Ambassador in 2000, I represented my country in Switzerland, The Netherlands, Ireland and Germany. As diplomat, one has not only the privilege to speak for one’s country but also to live for long periods in different places which helps to know other countries, its people, culture and idiosyncrasies. A very enriching experience. Although not being myself of German origin, Germany has been very important in my professional life since it was where I held my first diplomatic post (1979) as well as my last, after serving as Ambassador of Chile. Germany and Chile have had a long and successful relationship that manifests itself in many different fields. As Ambassador one of my objectives was to enhance this relationship, expanding it to new areas and increasing it in scope. The visit of former President Piñera as LAT’s guest of honour in 2018 as well as the visit of many Ministers, Under-secretaries, business delegations; the signing of important agreements; the participation in several trade fairs, testified to this very active relationship. In this context, is that I first encounter LAV’s work, undoubtedly a fundamental partner in bringing closer Germany and Latin America. Although these links have been present for over hundred years, it’s very important to have a platform such as LAV playing an active role in helping approach the German business community with their counterparts in Latin America. As Ambassador to Germany, we worked closely with LAV which helped organise business missions in both directions, seminars and other activities, as well as working together in the signing of agreements, all of which helped me greatly value the important work done by LAV. After having known closely the fundamental role played by LAV, it is a great honour for me to serve now as its Commissioner in Chile. I will certainly try my utmost to help further enhance the relations between Chile and Germany. To achieve this goal, I consider very important to work in close connection with the different bilateral entities, both public and private, that pursue the same goal. In times of uncertainties, both regionally as well as globally, LAV is of great help in ensuring the role of Latin America, and Chile in particular, as investment and business partner for German entrepreneurs. Chile’s Present Panorama As you may remember, in October 2019 Chile experienced important signs of political and social unrest. A country that was seen as an example for many, was living a critical situation in which the economic model valid for the past 30 years and that had brought about stability and growth, was being questioned by a younger generation who felt that the system hadn’t been able to respond adequately to their needs and expectations. Unfortunately, this legitimate aim for reform on issues such as pensions, health, education was overtaken by organised and coordinated groups which exercised violence on a scale unseen since the return of democracy, all of which had a huge impact on Chile’s political and economic life. In November 2019, most of Chile’s political parties signed the “Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution” that called for the writing of a new constitution which if approved, would put an end to the Constitution of 1980, considered by many as illegitimate in its origins since it was written during Pinochet’s regime. Although It had important reforms during its more than 30 years of existence, most of the political class favoured a new constitution as the only way to end the political and social divisions responsible for the increasing polarisation of the Chilean society. We then started the task of writing a new constitution. During this period we had a change of government from Piñera’s center-right to Boric’s leftist coalition and voted in two plebiscites that were supposed to clear the way for the new Constitution. This complex and sometimes highly polarised process ended in September of this year when the vast majority of the Chileans clearly rejected the Constitution proposed to them by an elected Constitutional Assembly. After an exemplary, massive and democratic exercise, 61.86% of the population rejected the constitutional project, which had been actively supported by President’s Boric government and had his personal involvement. Many might be the causes for this result and a final analysis will probably take years but there are some elements that might help understand what happened. On one hand, the failure of the constiCecilia Mackenna Chile 36 LAV - Commissioners
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