Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro wins THIRD term

 Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has won a third term, the country’s electoral authority has said – despite several exit polls which had pointed to a decisive opposition win

The head of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso, said Mr Maduro had secured 51% of the vote, beating his opponent Edmundo Gonzalez, who won 44%.

He said around 80% of ballot boxes have been counted, adding that results had been delayed because of “aggression” against the electoral data transmission system.

Mr Maduro said his re-election was a triumph of peace and stability, and reiterated his campaign assertion that Venezuela’s electoral system is transparent.

However, Mr Gonzalez also claimed victory, saying “Venezuelans and the entire world know what happened”.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Mr Gonzalez’s margin of victory was “overwhelming”, based on results from the voting tallies from about 40% of nationwide ballot boxes.