La Paz, October 14 (RHC-Mercopress) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales, who easily won a third term in last Sunday's general election, has said he will stick to a policy of pragmatic socialism, respecting private property while expanding the state's role in the economy.

Morales' anti-poverty programs and prudent spending of funds from the nationalization of natural gas and oil businesses have earned him wide support in a country long dogged by political instability. He also won plaudits from Wall Street for running fiscal surpluses and delivering economic growth averaging more than five percent a year.

Morales attributed his election victory to “management and work” and said he would stick to the same policies. Exit polls showed that Morales' Movement towards Socialism party won the vote in eight of Bolivia's nine regions, including Santa Cruz, which is the country's most affluent region and traditionally an opposition stronghold.