How did the Pinochet regime in Chile come to an end?

The Pinochet regime in Chile ended through a national plebiscite in 1988, which rejected Pinochet's bid for another presidential term.

General Augusto Pinochet's regime, which began with a military coup in 1973, was marked by severe human rights abuses and economic restructuring. However, it was the democratic process that ultimately led to its downfall. In 1980, Pinochet had a new constitution approved through a controversial plebiscite, which included a provision for a single-candidate presidential referendum in 1988. This was intended to legitimise his rule and potentially extend his presidency for another eight years.

As the 1988 plebiscite approached, opposition to Pinochet's regime coalesced into a broad-based coalition known as the Concertación. Despite facing significant obstacles, including media bias and intimidation, the Concertación ran a highly effective 'No' campaign, arguing that Chile needed a return to democracy and an end to human rights abuses. The campaign resonated with many Chileans, who had grown weary of Pinochet's authoritarian rule and the social divisions it had caused.

On 5 October 1988, the plebiscite was held, and the 'No' vote won with 55.99% of the vote. This was a clear rejection of Pinochet's bid for another term. According to the terms of the 1980 constitution, this meant that an open presidential election had to be held the following year. Pinochet accepted the result, albeit reluctantly, and stepped down from power in 1990, marking the end of his regime.

However, Pinochet's influence in Chilean politics did not end immediately. He remained the head of the military until 1998 and then became a senator-for-life, a position granted to him by the 1980 constitution. This allowed him to maintain a degree of political influence and also provided him with immunity from prosecution for crimes committed during his regime. It was not until 2000 that Pinochet was arrested and charged with human rights abuses, although he died in 2006 without ever being convicted.