COVID-19: Chile postpones landmark elections amid Covid-19 resurgence

Due to a Covid-19 resurgence, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera declared that this week's landmark polls to elect councillors, mayors, and, for the first time, regional governors and members of a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution, would be postponed until May 15-16.

In a speech at the government palace, Pinera on Tuesday said the decision prioritises the health of both the country's democracy and its people. 

"Given the strong re-emergence of the coronavirus pandemic and the appearance of new variants, not only in Chile, but throughout the world, and considering the high demand our health system is facing it did not seem prudent or advisable to hold elections this coming weekend," he said.

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The much-anticipated elections are set to elect 155 constituents to draw up a new Constitution as a political solution to the social unrest that erupted in October 2019.

Similarly, the Governors of each of the country's 16 regions will be elected for the first time.