Bolivia's Morales confronts rivals in recall vote

LA PAZ (Reuters) - From the Andes to the Amazon, Bolivians vote on Sunday in a recall referendum that President Evo Morales is expected to win, but the outcome is unlikely to ease a bitter standoff with his rightist rivals.

Regional governors who have led opposition to Morales' leftist agenda will also face the recall, meaning they too could be voted out. A surprise Morales defeat would force him to call new elections in the natural-gas rich nation.

Morales, a former coca farmer who is Bolivia's first Indian leader, hopes a victory will allow him to relaunch reforms including nationalizations, land redistribution and a constitution that aims to empower the poor.

But with volatile Bolivia roiled by pro- and anti-government protests fueled by racial and economic divisions, few people expect the recall vote to restore calm in South America's poorest country.

"It won't change things much either way," said Kathryn Ledebur, director of private think-tank the Andean Information Network, saying she expected Morales to win.

"They'll remain deadlocked (and) each side will use it to become more deeply entrenched in their positions," she added.

Campaigning has been tense and observers fear controversy over voting rules could trigger violent protests. Morales needs 46.3 percent of the vote, but the eight regional governors need more than 50 percent to keep their jobs.

Polls show Morales remains popular, especially among the two-thirds of Bolivia's 10 million people who are poor, but protests forced him to cancel several campaign rallies in opposition-controlled regions this week.

Opposition to Morales is concentrated in four lowland regions that are home to Bolivia's vast gas fields and rich farmland. Their governors are pushing for greater autonomy.

Since taking office in 2006, Morales has ramped up taxes on foreign energy firms and nationalized telecommunications and mining businesses in a drive to fight poverty. In his Andean power base of La Paz and nearby El Alto, many are grateful.

"He's one of us. He has brought about such change, like nationalization," said Rolando Cenabire, 42, a builder from El Alto, which lies some 4,000 meters (13,120 ft) above sea level. "If he loses, we lose our rights."

Some supporters have even called on traditional Andean spirits to help him win.

"Lots of people have come to offer sacrifices to Pachamama (Mother Earth) for Evo," said witchdoctor Cris Chispe, tending her stall of dried llama fetuses and sugar tokens burned as offerings at El Alto's witches' market.

Morales' foes paint him as a left-wing extremist who is in the pocket of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the vocal leader of a group of socialist leaders in Latin America.

"The government is a satellite of Hugo Chavez ... and wants to impose a constitution that centralizes, destroys institutions and the economy," said former President Jorge Quiroga, who heads rightist opposition party Podemos. "The president needs to divorce Chavez and marry Bolivia."

(Editing by Helen Popper and Todd Eastham)