Re-Elected Evo Morales Dedicates Victory to Hugo Chavez

Santa Elena de Uairen, October 14th, 2014 (Venezuelanalysis.com) – On Sunday evening, as exit polls of Bolivia’s presidential election showed Evo Morales as the decisive victor with nearly 60% of votes, the South American leader dedicated his victory to the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and late Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

“The dignity and sovereignty of the Bolivian people has won, and it is dedicated to all the peoples of the world who struggle against imperialism,” Morales told the vast crowd of supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace.

The Aymara indigenous leader thanked the Bolivians for their overwhelming participation in the election, and emphasized that his re-election represented a commitment “to continue the integration not only of Bolivians but all Latin Americans.”

Morales, a self-declared Marxist, and late Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez maintained a close alliance and noted friendly rapport throughout the time they served their respective nations concurrently.

Chavez provided substantial support for Morales’s initial election campaign in 2005, after which the Bolivian president launched many initiatives similar to those that distinguished Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution; such as a dynamic literacy campaign, the nationalization of natural resources, land reforms, and other policies directed at social development.

Since that time, the two nations have played off each other’s hopes for an integrated Latin America by vocally aligning themselves against U.S. foreign policy and economic intervention both regionally and worldwide.

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was the first to congratulate the re-elected leader, posting on Twitter, “Long live Bolivia, long live Tupac Katari, long live Simon Bolivar, long live Sucre, long live Hugo Chavez, long live Fidel, long live Evo!”

President Salvador Sanchez Ceren of El Salvador also sent his greetings via his Twitter account, saying ”Bolivia continues to build hope for Latin America and the world.”

President Jose Mujica of Uruguay and Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez both called Morales Sunday evening to offer their congratulations.

In an interview with Telesur on Monday, Morales emphasized the importance of Latin American integration and sovereignty, and expressed his hope that the leftist governments in Brazil and Uruguay will see equal victories in their respective upcoming electoral races.

“We will respect the electoral results of each country, but we wish to continue working, united, for our Latin America and and the Caribbean,” said the Bolivian leader.