Maduro Wins Venezuela Presidential Election

Nicolas Maduro waves at supporters after casting his vote in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday. Photo by Getty Images

Socialist candidate Nicolas Maduro, the man former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez handpicked to be his successor, has won a narrow victory in the country's presidential poll.

Maduro, who was chosen by the late Hugo Chavez, won 50.7% of the vote against 49.1% for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

The electoral commission said the results were "irreversible".

Maduro told a rally of supporters in the capital Caracas that he had won a "just, legal and constitutional" victory.

Maduro said he was willing to allow an audit of the election result.

Almost 80% of eligible voters took part in the poll.

Maduro had been serving as acting president since Chavez died of cancer on 5 March.

He is due to be sworn in on 19 April and serve until January 2019 to complete the six-year term that Chavez would have begun in January.

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