Morales agrees to recall vote

President Evo Morales agreed Thursday to stand for election in a nationwide recall vote, gambling that Bolivians will reelect him after just two years in office and shore up support for his pending reforms.

Morales first proposed a nationwide recall referendum in December amid a battle over his draft constitution.

The idea seemed to have been forgotten until Thursday, when an opposition-controlled Senate passed a bill ordering a referendum be held within 90 days. Morales pledged to sign the measure.

The measure would require Morales and Bolivia’s nine state governors to win more votes and a greater percentage of support than they did on a 2005 ballot. If they fall short, they will have to run again.