Nicolas Maduro confirmed as winner of Venezuela’s presidential poll in ceremony

The head of state’s next term of office will not actually begin until January 10.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro speaks to members of the Constituent Assembly during a ceremony to recognise him as the winner of the presidential election in Caracas (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Nicolas Maduro has been sworn in as Venezuela’s president-elect, months before he is due to formally take the oath of office next year for a second term.

The inauguration-like pomp left many confused because Mr Maduro’s next six-year term does not begin until January 10 and he is already president.

The ceremony came at a session of the pro-government constitutional assembly that has largely taken over powers of the opposition-led legislature.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, centre, Constituent National Assembly president Delcy Rodriguez, left, and first lady Cilia Flores, wave as they arrive for the ceremony (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

Official results showed Mr Maduro topping his closest challenger, Henri Falcon, by 47 percentage points.

Mr Maduro said he recognised troubles facing Venezuelans, yet vowed to press forward with the country’s socialist policies, which have prompted crushing US sanctions.

“I won’t lie,” Mr Maduro said.

“Those sanctions will bring serious difficulties, painful difficulties that we will face and will overcome and will defeat.”

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, left, is recognised as the winner of the presidential election (Ariana Cubillos/AP)

In a gesture toward mending Venezuela’s deep divides, Mr Maduro called on a commission under the constitutional assembly to consider releasing some prisoners, without providing details.

In the days following the election, Mr Maduro has expelled two top US diplomats from Venezuela, drawing an equal response from Washington.

At the same time as Mr Maduro’s ceremony, US Charge d’affaires Todd Robinson and deputy head of mission, Brian Naranjo, were flying out of the country.