Autonomy and representativeness
Several criticisms point to the State administration model that, although it focused on its decentralization, provided few tools to carry it out effectively. The territorial organization in Chile was historically designed with economic, military and administrative perspectives, but it did not consider the representativeness of citizens nor was it intended as a form of transfer of power. This explains why the level of autonomy given to the regions and their subdivisions is low and that, in any case, many decisions are made by the central government.[21].
The territorial structure, furthermore, legally treats all regions in the same way. This has generated criticism from some analysts, who argue that this uniformity accentuates centralization, since not all regions have the same realities and, therefore, should not be treated the same.[22] It was not until 2007 that territories with special characteristics were established, which could adjust to the peculiarities of the island areas.[22].
In recent decades, reforms to the system have been proposed to deepen the decentralization of power, as well as democratize and deliver real autonomy to the regions. Among these changes that have been implemented, the direct election of the communal authorities in 1992 and the regional councilors in 2013 stands out; Several politicians proposed the direct election of the mayors, and this is how in 2017 the National Congress approved the election of the executive body of each regional government, which will be called regional governor and will be elected for the first time in April 2021. Some slogans in favor of greater decentralization have been present in various demonstrations, highlighting those that occurred in Magallanes (2011) and Aysén (2012),[21] which have given rise to political movements such as the Regionalist Party of the Independents.
Administrative divisions
One of the motivations behind the regionalization process was the reduction of the public apparatus, often considered inefficient, having 25 provinces, more than 50 departments and hundreds of communes. For this reason, the administrative reform decided to reorganize these territories, merging them to achieve the original 13 regions. However, on some occasions this division was rejected by local communities who lost the autonomy they had until then possessed. Various proposals for changes have been formulated, which are evaluated by the Undersecretary of Regional and Administrative Development (Subdere), before being presented to the National Congress for legislative debate.
Among the clearest examples was the merger of the provinces of Valdivia, Osorno, Llanquihue and Chiloé in the Los Lagos Region. Valdivia "Valdivia (Chile)"), one of the oldest cities in the country, maintained its autonomy for centuries (even being one of the few colonized territories south of La Frontera "La Frontera (Chile)")); However, the new regionalization incorporated this province into a region directed from Puerto Montt. The rivalry between both urban poles, the distance between the extreme points of the region, the economic and social differences between both sectors and intraregional centralism motivated the discussion of a division of the region.[23].
The Tarapacá Region experienced a similar situation, as a result of the tension between its two main cities, Arica and Iquique, separated by 300 km by the desert. Prior to their incorporation into Chilean territory, both cities were in different administrative divisions, with Arica remaining in the Province of Tacna "Province of Tacna (Chile)") until the return of the provincial capital to Peru. Arica was thus added to the Province of Tarapacá "Province of Tarapacá (Chile)"), with capital in Iquique, which was maintained after regionalization. This motivated the creation of various groups in Arica to request the creation of their own region, after the return of democracy.
In 2005, proposals to create two new regions were submitted to Congress and, in 2007, laws creating the Los Ríos Region and the Arica y Parinacota Region were enacted.
Although these two new regions managed to improve the problems in the division established by the regionalization of 1976, various proposals for new regions have emerged with greater or lesser support. Among the proposals for new regions is El Loa (provinces of El Loa and
Tocopilla),[23][24] Aconcagua,[23][25] Maule Sur (provinces of Linares and Cauquenes, and Constitución commune "Constitución (Chile)")),[26] Osorno and Chiloé.[23][27].
The discussion at the provincial level has been much less relevant. New provinces were created by decree a few years after regionalization was established, while the creation of the regions of Los Ríos and Arica and Parinacota in 2007 added two provinces (El Tamarugal and Ranco) to the administrative structure. The only proposal debated in Congress was the creation of the Province of Marga Marga, enacted in 2009 and implemented at the beginning of the following year. A less relevant proposal promotes the creation of a province in the Villarrica area "Villarrica (Chile)").[28].
In the local administration, meanwhile, the creation of new communes has been a much more recurrent issue than in previous cases. Since the return of democracy, various proposals have been formulated by the Government and Congress, some of which have been implemented. The last communes created were Alto Hospicio, Alto Biobío, Cholchol and Hualpén, which came into operation during 2004.[29] More than thirty proposals have been raised before the Undersecretary of Regional and Administrative Development (Subdere),[30] but only two currently have some type of official support: the separation of Tongoy from the commune of Coquimbo has already passed the first territorial report generated by the Subdere and is awaiting the economic evaluation,[31] while the split in the commune of Osorno to give rise to Rahue is already in the legislative process.[32].
In August 2015, the submission of a bill, signed by President Michelle Bachelet, was announced to convert the Province of Ñuble "Province of Ñuble (1974-2018)") into the Region of Ñuble.[33][34]
Thus creating the Provinces of Itata, Punilla, Diguillín.
However, this Region had already been proposed by mayors and residents repeatedly before.[35]
On July 12, 2017, this project was approved by the Senate, with 26 votes in favor and only 2 against.[36] On August 19, 2017, President Michelle Bachelet signed the decree promulgating the law that creates the region of Ñuble.[37] The law in question was published in the Official Gazette on September 5, 2017, and was implemented a year later, on September 6, 2018.[38].
By law number 21,074, the numbering of the regions was eliminated and their designation by their names was established.
• - Electoral division of Chile.
• - Annex: Communes of Santiago de Chile.
• - Annex: Heteronomous communes of Chile.
• - Chilean Antarctic bases.
• - Chilean Antarctic Territory.
• - Tricontinentality of Chile.