Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has won the second term to another six-year in office, in a vote marred by an opposition boycott and claims of vote-rigging.
Amid food shortages stemming from a severe economic crisis, turnout was low.
The National Electoral Council (CNE) put it at just 46% but the opposition alleges it was even lower.
The main opposition candidate, Henri Falcón, rejected the result soon after the polls closed and called for new elections.
“We do not recognise this electoral process as valid… we have to have new elections in Venezuela,” he said.
With more than 90% of the votes counted, Mr Maduro had 67.7% – 5.8 million votes – CNE chief Tibisay Lucena announced. Mr Falcón had won 21.2% – 1.8 million votes – she said.
Why is there a row about the turnout?
With Venezuela’s main opposition coalition boycotting the election, a win after re-election by President Maduro had been widely expected. What observers were more interested in was to see how many Venezuelans would turn out to vote.
