The Central Electoral Commission reported that the electorate chose Maduro over his rival, Henrique Capriles, with a less than two percentage point margin.
Maduro immediately declared victory. "I'm here to assume my responsibility with courage," he declared, "The fight continues!" Maduro, 50, told a rally.
Supporters celebrated with fireworks and by honking their car horns in Central Caracas. At Miraflores, the presidential palace, Maduro told cheering "Chavistas" the victory was further proof that Chávez "continues to be invincible, that he continues to win battles".
Chávez died from cancer last month, triggering an unexpected election just six months after Chávez won another presidential term. In his last address to the nation before undergoing emergency surgery the charismatic Chavez urged Venezuelans to vote for Maduro if he did not recover.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was among leaders offering their congratulations to Maduro on behalf of the people of of Trinidad and Tobago.
In a media release she said: “Mr. Maduro’s victory is evidence of the confidence the Venezuelan people have reposed in his published commitment to building on the legacy of the late President Hugo Chavez, whose vision was for the creation and consolidation of a strong Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)”.
The Prime Minister added that ties that bind both countries have intensified and now extend to areas of critical importance to the development of both countries.
“My Government therefore looks forward to working closely with you in pursuit of mutually agreed goals as we celebrate this year, the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations,” she said in a congratulatory message to Maduro.
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