Quito, November 27 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa's surprise announcement that he would not seek a third term in the 2017 elections has provoked a debate within the United Front, the coalition comprised of 14 political organizations that back the government and the political project known as the Citizens' Revolution.

The National Assembly of Ecuador is set to hold a second and final debate on a series of constitutional amendments in December. Those amendments originally included the elimination of term limits, which would have opened the door for Correa to seek a third term.

However, President Correa proposed a transitional provision that would make it so the change would only apply after 2017, effectively preventing the incumbent from being able to immediately seek a third term.

"It is understandable that the president has made that decision, although it took us by surprise.  The political landscape has changed with this transitional provision.  We will make a thorough analysis of this situation... and then make a decision together," Veronica Loayza, the national president of the Democratic Center Party told El Telegrafo.
   
Representatives of the organizations that make up the United Front have scheduled a meeting on December 12th to decide the next steps for the bloc.

The United Front is a relatively new coalition, having been officially launched in September 2014, and has not contested an election as a bloc.  Deciding whether they will present a single candidate for the 2017 presidential election will be one of the major questions facing the coalition.

"Personally and as a democrat I believe in unity and the need to create spaces for dialogue, and so the most obvious choice would be unity regarding the next candidate for president and for the list of national and provincial National Assembly candidates, but that's a personal position that I will defend within my political organization," said Fabian Solano, the head of United Front and member of the Socialist Party.

Lenin Moreno, Correa's vice-president during his first term, is being floated as the most likely figure to run for president in place of Correa.

Earlier this week Bolivian President Evo Morales revealed that Correa had told him in a private conversation that he did not intend to run again for family reasons. Morales further revealed that Correa had suggested Moreno should be the candidate.

Jimmy Jairala, the director of the Democratic Center party, told El Telegrafo that his party would back Moreno should he be selected as the presidential candidate.

PAIS Alliance, the party founded by Correa ahead of his first election, will decide who will represent the party during its upcoming national convention, scheduled for May 2016.