Ecuadorian president calls on followers to unite to ensure electoral victory in 2017

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa on Saturday asked his followers to unite and stop the opposition from gaining power in the 2017 general elections.

In a speech marking nine years of his presidency, Correa said Ecuador should choose between two visions for its society and development.

In front of thousands of supporters, Correa called for the ruling party's candidates for the presidency and Congress to defend the achievements of the government's "citizen revolution", including bringing 1.3 million people out of poverty.

Regarding the opposition, the president warned that they would "lead a very dirty campaign" to try and turn voters away from the PAIS Alliance.

"They will talk of corruption within the government but never prove anything. They will never stop lying...but they must be responsible for their acts and statements," he said. "We will have zero tolerance for the lies."

"The only possible response against the lies and manipulations of conservative opposition is a new victory," Correa told supporters.

Correa took office as Ecuadorian president in 2007 and is now serving his second term. He announced earlier that he would not run for another term in the 2017 elections. Endi