In this release of the Digital Debate we analyzed publications about the constituent process and the work of the Convention on Twitter this week. The debate was marked by the results of the presidential elections, by the visits paid to the Constituent Convention by the President Elect Gabriel Boric and his campaign manager, Izkia Siches, and by the visit of the former president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

Summary

168,800 tweets
142,400 retweets (84%)
12,700 replies (8%)

Words

The words used the most on Twitter publications this week were “presidente”, “boric”, “chile”, “presidenta”, and “proceso”.

The most used words, as well as the rest of the words appearing in the cloud, are closely related to the results of the presidential elections last Sunday, December 19, in which the 35-year-old candidate for Apruebo Dignidade, Gabriel Boric, defeat his adversary, the candidate for the Christian Social Front, José Antonio Kast. With a high level of participation – 55.6% of the electorate –, Gabriel Boric obtained 55.9% of the votes, becoming the youngest president elect in the history of Chile.

This comfortable victory was the major factor that explains why the left-wing community was dominant in the map of communities, and why the most influential accounts this week belong to this community.

The words “presidenta” and “bachelet” are related to a visit paid on Thursday by the former president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, to the Convention, and her participation and the Political System Commission.

Two days before the visit of the High Commissioner, the president elect also visited the former location of the National Congress, where the Constituent Convention carries out its work. He was accompanied by his campaign manager and key player for his success in the second round, doctor Izkia Siches.

Hashtags

The main hashtags used on Twitter this week regarding the constituent process were#graciaskast, #boricpresidentedechile, #laconvenciónsedefiende, and #cooperativacontigo.

The hashtag #graciaskast was used by supporters of the candidate José Antonio Kast to thank him for his work in the past months.

In turn, the hashtag #laconvencionsedefiende made another strong appearance after the publication of fake news related to the work of the Convention, which had to be clarified by authorities.

Timeline

The highest frequency of tweets per hour was registered on Tuesday, December 21 at 9am. Around that time, the President Elect Gabriel Boric visited the Constituent Convention at the former location of the National Congress. The visit of the High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet on Thursday can also be seen in the figure.

Tweets with the most retweets

The tweets with the highest number of retweets this week were published by the account of the Vice President of the Constituent Convention, Jaime Bassa, by the account of the former president of the Medical College of Chile and campaign manager for Gabriel Boric, Izkia Siches, and by the account @VicoRCN.

Jaime Bassa replied to a tweet published by the official account of the Convenção Constituinte (@convencioncl), which states: “Given the circulation of an interview stating that the Commission for the Environment discussed limiting fruit exports, the Convention hereby declares that neither the Commission nor its representatives have proposed such measure”. Bassa, replying to the tweet, added: “In the Convention, we have decided to decisively and firmly fight the spread of fake news and lies that affect our work. I ask you to help us with an RT”.

In turn, Izkia Siches replied to a note published by the media outlet La Cuarta, entitled: “Alone, she turned the North”: the essential role of Izkia Siches in Boric’s historic win.” Siches replied to the post: “Not alone… But with the entire regional command, parliament representatives, mayors, counselors, governors, parties, independent organizations, constituents and social organizations. Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you, my dear North”, she wrote.

Lastly, the user @VicoRCN posted a tweet criticizing the coverage given by the media about the constituent process. When it came to light that the Convention saved 900 million pesos and informed Segpress to relocated the resources, the user published: “Ok, the Convention saved 900 million. But the Chilean media is still not capable of putting us on the front page”. Jaime Bassa made a publication in his Twitter account last Thursday together with an explanatory video: “In an important effort of efficient and austere management, the Convention has saved more than 900 million in 2021, which will be relocated to citizen participation and indigenous consultation. The Convention advances with everyone”.

Tweet 1:
In the Convention, we have decided to decisively and firmly fight the spread of fake news and lies that affect our work.
I ask you to help us with an RT.

– Retweet:
Given the circulation of an interview stating that the Commission for the Environment discussed limiting fruit exports, the Convention hereby declares that neither the Commission nor its representatives have proposed such measure.

Tweet 2:
Not alone… But with the entire regional command, parliament representatives, mayors, counselors, governors, parties, independent organizations, constituents and social organizations. Thank you very much, everyone. Thank you, my dear North.

– Retweet:
“Alone, she turned the North”: the essential role of Izkia Siches in Boric’s historic win

Tweet 3:
Ok, the Convention saved 900 million. But the Chilean media is still not capable of putting us on the front page.

Analysis of networks and communities

As mentioned previously, the comfortable victory of the Apruebo Dignidad candidate lead to the dominance of the pink community in the last days. The pink community appeared clearly larger than the blue community, and the most influential accounts belong to it. The blue community appeared weaker compared to the pink community.

Exceptionally, the Constituent Teresa Marinovic did not figure among the most influential accounts. Instead, the most influential accounts this week were the Vice President of the Directive Board of the Convention, Jaime Bassa (@jaime_bassa), the elected presidential candidate, Gabriel Boric (@gabrielboric), the official account of the Convención Constituyente (@convencioncl), Gabriel Boric’s campaign manager, Izkia Siches (@izkia), the account @VicoRCN, and the account of the Constituent Jorge Baradit (@baradit).

In seventh place came the account of Sergio Melnick, the only one in the list belonging to the blue community, according to the data. He was followed by the accounts of the Constituent Cristina Dorador (@criordor), President Elisa Loncón (@elisaloncon), and the media outlet La Neta (@lanetacl).

Methodological note

The survey was carried out through the Trendsmap application with the following query: (constituyente OR constituyentes OR constitucional OR constitución OR constitucion OR convencion OR convención OR convencionales OR convencional) OR #convencionconstituyente OR #convenciónconstituyente OR #convencionconstitucional OR #convenciónconstitucional OR #convencion OR #convención)

Through this survey, we sought to find Twitter conversations related to the work of the Constitutional Convention and the constituent process between Monday, December 20 at 12am and Friday, December 24 at 8am. We collected data on conversations produced by users located in Chile and in Spanish.

* The Digital Democracy Room is a project of FGV DAPP in Brazil in partnership with Animal Político, Bolivia Verifica, Chequeado, Confidencial, Espacio Público, Linterna Verde and Ojo Público. It’s goal is to monitor and analyze the digital conversations regarding the electoral context.

The analysis is available the website of Espacio Público here.