Winning nearly 70 percent of the votes, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro secures a second term.

But the U.S. has called the election a “sham” while opposition candidates said they won’t recognize the result.

CGTN’s Stephen Gibbs reports from Caracas.

Follow Stephen Gibbs on Twitter @STHGibbs

To discuss the election and the situation throughout Venezuela:

• • Gloria La Riva is the coordinator of the Cuba and Venezuela Solidarity Committee.
  • Liz Rebecca Alarcon is a venture manager for Project Pulso, a digital organization focused on linking Latin Americans in the U.S.
  • Mariano de Alba is an associate director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.
  • Lucas Koerner is a journalist and political analyst for Venezuelaanalysis.com

For more:

#BREAKING Head of #Venezuela's election board says President Nicolas Maduro has won Sunday’s election pic.twitter.com/hRnIK2q5jm

— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 21, 2018

UPDATE: Vice President Pence says Venezuela's recent election was 'a sham – neither free nor fair' https://t.co/exA7X0Gdmv

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 21, 2018

"Today’s so-called 'election' in Venezuela is an insult to democracy." https://t.co/6nc6E59a6H

— VICE News (@VICENews) May 21, 2018