Ecuador's top court backs proposal to allow indefinite re-election of President Correa

QUITO, Ecuador – Ecuador's top court has endorsed and sent to the National Assembly a constitutional reform package that would allow indefinite re-election for President Rafael Correa.

Correa's ruling Alianza Pais party holds 100 of the assembly's 137 seats, so Friday's ruling by the Constitutional Court signals almost certain success for the government-proposed changes, which would end term limits for all elected officials.

The opposition had demanded the question be submitted to a plebiscite, although opinion polls say about two-thirds of Ecuadoreans favor the proposal.

Correa was first elected in 2006 and his current term ends in 2017. He has said he would seek another term only if he considered his "revolution" threatened.

The leftist economist is widely popular among Ecuadoreans for generous social spending but broadly criticized for intolerance of free expression.