Maduro wins second term amid boycott

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, holding a copy of the country's constitution, addresses supporters in Caracas, after electoral officials declared he was re-elected. Photo / AP

Venezuela's election officials say socialist leader Nicolas Maduro has won a second six-year term as president of the oil-rich South American country, while his main rivals are disputing the legitimacy of the vote and calling for a new election.

The National Election Council announced that with almost 93 per cent of polling stations reporting, Maduro won nearly 68 per cent of the votes, beating his nearest challenger Henri Falcon by almost 40 points. Javier Bertucci got around 11 per cent.

The opposition throughout the day argued that a Maduro victory would lack legitimacy because many voters stayed home, heeding the call to boycott an election seen as rigged.

Government critics also say other voters were pressured into voting for Maduro.

Electoral authorities say turnout is projected to reach 48 per cent.

Voting centres across Venezuela's capital Caracas appeared largely empty, and authorities kept polling stations open past the official closing time.

Many governments around the world rejected the election even before ballots were cast as several key rivals of Maduro were barred from running.

Increasing authoritarian rule and mismanagement of the all-important state-run oil industry have caused a deepening economic crisis, putting Venezuelan on the brink of collapse.

The election "without any doubt lacks legitimacy and we categorically refuse to recognise this process," Falcon told supporters.

- AP