Bolivian President Evo Morales declared his re-election victory Sunday a triumph for socialist reforms that have reduced poverty. He will begin a third term that will last through 2018 with roughy 60 percent of the votes cast.

Reuters reports:

Morales, who became Bolivia’s first indigenous leader in 2006, will now be able to extend his “indigenous socialism”, under which he has nationalized key industries such as oil and gas to finance welfare programs and build new roads and schools.

“This was a debate on two models: nationalisation or privatisation. Nationalisation won with more than 60 percent (support),” Morales told thousands of cheering supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace.

A prominent member of the bloc of socialist and anti-U.S. leaders in Latin America, Morales dedicated his victory to Cuba’s former communist leader Fidel Castro.

“This win is a triumph for anti-imperialists and anti-colonialists,” Morales said.

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— Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly