Hugo Chávez was re-elected Venezuela’s president for a six-year term on Sunday with 61 per cent of the vote, 23 percentage points ahead of his main opponent, who conceded defeat but challenged the magnitude of the margin.

Manuel Rosales, the predominant opposition candidate, won about 38 per cent of the vote, according to preliminary official results based on a tally from 78 per cent of polling stations, the National Electoral Council said.