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QUITO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Despite riding a wave of popularity, Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa on Thursday again declined to run in February 2017 presidential elections.
A day after polls showed Correa's approval rating at 61 percent -- a notable achievement after 10 years in office -- the president said his decision to not run for a third term "is already made."
In a series of Twitter posts, Correa also thanked a civic group called "Rafael With You Always," which has gathered more than 1.2 million signatures in support of a constitutional reform to enable a third run.
On Aug. 15, the group submitted 1,245,000 signatures to the National Electoral Council (CNE) in favor of a referendum to allow Correa to throw his hat in the ring.
The CNE has 15 days to review the proposal, before sending it on to the Constitutional Court for a definitive ruling.
"Thanks to dear young people," said Correa. "What greater happiness is there for a president than to see thousands of young people mobilized so he can run again for reelection."
Correa noted the political opposition groups could not raise the support the group did in a mere 45 days, despite their media coverage and their millions.
The president also said he was confident that as candidate, he would defeat the opposition again, as now "there is a legacy, an awareness and a new country."
But Correa cited a desire to spend more time with his family and to give others in his Alianza Pais (Country Alliance) Party a chance to govern.
"I owe my family and, above all, there is a valuable AP cadre that could fill the post and surely do it better than I could," said Correa.
Correa, who took office in January 2007, has reduced poverty and unemployment, and most recently skillfully guided the country's reconstruction in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in April of this year.
