Quito, November 11 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Opposition groups in Ecuador protested on Wednesday afternoon in the country’s three largest cities -- Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil -- with government supporters simultaneously holding counter-demonstrations in support of President Rafael Correa and the Citizens’ Revolution of his PAIS Alliance party.

Central to the opposition protests is the demand that the government scrap proposed constitutional amendments, especially the amendment regarding the elimination of presidential term limits.

The Indigenous organization Conaie — which was part of the coalition that brought President Correa to power in 2006, but which has been increasingly aligned with right-wing banker Guillermo Lasso since 2010 — called for a national mobilization against constitutional amendments.

In response to the planned protests, President Correa called on his Twitter account for grassroots supporters to gather in front of Quito’s Presidential Palace in the central Plaza Grande.

The new opposition mobilization comes as the latest wave of action against the government after a relative lull in protest activity since September 17th.  
 
In June, the opposition ramped up their protests against President Correa following the announcement of government plans to introduce a capital gains and inheritance tax aimed at redistributing wealth.  The proposed tax laws would impact about two percent of Ecuador’s population.

In an effort to ease tensions and promote dialogue, President Correa temporarily withdrew the bills and launched a national debate in the country focused on wealth distribution and other means of addressing inequality.  The talks focus on several laws currently under discussion, including the proposal to increase inheritance tax, and invites Ecuadoreans from various sectors to participate in developing political proposals in the interests of promoting social justice.