Chile postpones constitutional assembly poll as COVID cases spike

President Sebastian Pinera says election scheduled for April will now be held in May to combat the rise in coronavirus infections.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera said on Sunday he will ask Congress to postpone the election of an assembly to write a new constitution for the country from April until May, due to a rise in coronavirus cases. The country has seen a fresh wave of COVID-19 infections since the end of Southern Hemisphere summer vacation season last month. “The elections that were to be held on Saturday April 10 and Sunday April 11, will be held on the weekend of Saturday the 16th of May,” Pinera said in a televised speech.