This week:  A narrow margin in the Venezuelan election by Hugo Chávez’s heir Nicolás Maduro spells uncertainty for the country; behind by less than two percent of the vote, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles challenges the election results and demands a full recount; tensions then rise after Venezuela’s government reneges on its promise to carry out the recount of the votes; government security forces and opposition protesters clash in Venezuela over election results; and the news of Maduro’s narrow victory in Venezuela causes bonds to fall and credit-default swaps to rise.  Capriles calls off a march planned to demand an election recount after Maduro and his government threaten a crackdown; U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry encourages a recount of the votes casted in Venezuela’s presidential election; amid post-election violence, Human Rights Watch reports that Venezuela’s government continues to limit citizens’ rights to speak freely and assemble peacefully; and protestors take to the streets with pots and pans to express dissatisfaction towards Maduro and the government’s handling of the election results. Several South American governments hold an emergency meeting to discuss Venezuela’s political crisis; Venezuela’s electoral committee finally agrees to audit – but not fully recount – the presidential vote after demands from the opposition; the aftermath of the presidential election in Venezuela continues to batter the country’s already struggling economy; and the slim election victory represents another sign of the many problems ahead for Maduro and Venezuela. Indeed, the election has further tainted the legitimacy of Maduro and of the government he would represent.

Tight win for Chavez’s heir spells uncertainty for Venezuela, Reuters

Late socialist leader Hugo Chavez’s chosen successor Nicolas Maduro won Venezuela’s presidential election by a whisker but now faces opposition protests plus a host of economic and political challenges in the OPEC nation.

Opposition candidate demands recount after Chavez’s heir Nicolas Maduro wins Venezuela presidency, Fox News

Hugo Chavez’s hand-picked successor, Nicolas Maduro, has officially won Venezuela’s presidential election by a stunningly narrow margin that highlights rising discontent over problems ranging from crime to power blackouts.

Tensions Surge in Venezuela After Vote, The Wall Street Journal

Tension in Venezuela rose sharply Monday after the government reneged on its promise to carry out a full recount of the bitterly contested presidential vote and declared acting President Nicolás Maduro as president-elect.

Protests in Venezuela as opposition disputes Nicolás Maduro’s victory, The Guardian

Venezuelan security forces quelled protests on Monday as Nicolás Maduro – the handpicked heir of Hugo Chávez – was proclaimed president after a wafer-thin and fiercely disputed vote.

Venezuelan Bonds Sink Most in 2 Months on Maduro’s One-Point Win, Bloomberg Businessweek

Venezuela’s bonds tumbled the most in two months and credit-default swaps rose after ex-President Hugo Chavez’s handpicked successor, Nicolas Maduro, won emergency elections by one percentage point over opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

Capriles Calls Off Protest After Venezuela Threatens Crackdown, Bloomberg Businessweek

Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonski took a step back from the brink of a mounting confrontation with the government by calling off a march planned for today to protest the results of the April 14 presidential election.

Kerry Encourages Venezuela Recount, The New York Times

Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that Venezuela should hold a recount of votes cast in its presidential election, which the country’s electoral authorities say was narrowly won by a protégé of former President Hugo Chávez.

Venezuela: Respect Free Speech and Assembly, Human Rights Watch

The government of Venezuela should not limit citizens’ rights to freely express their views and assemble peacefully in response to the disputed presidential election, Human Rights Watch said today.

Stand against Venezuela’s new strongman, NY Daily News

There is a stirring sound echoing through Venezuela right now: that of the cacerolazo , a form of protest that involves participants taking to the streets banging pots and pans.

Venezuela dispute prompts urgent meeting of regional leaders, Reuters

Several South American presidents will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday in Lima to discuss the political crisis in Venezuela following the disputed election of President Nicolas Maduro, Peru’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

Conceding to opposition, election council to audit Venezuela vote, The Washington Post

Venezuela’s electoral council says it will audit the 46 percent of the vote not scrutinized on election night, a surprise concession that opposition candidate Henrique Capriles says will prove that he won the presidency.

Venezuela’s Election Downshifts Views on Economy, Debt, Wall Street Journal

We hear elections have consequences, which are usually obvious if the winner’s mandate is strong.

Analysis: Venezuela’s Maduro inherits tough economic problems, Reuters

Venezuelan President-elect Nicolas Maduro faces a difficult economic panorama of rising inflation and slowing growth, further complicated by his slim election victory that is being challenged by the opposition.

Maduro’s lousy start, The Economist

Hugo Chávez has been dead for more than a month, but visitors to Caracas could be forgiven for thinking that Venezuela’s bombastic former president was still alive and in power. His image plasters the streets; his speeches fill the airwaves. The blitz was ordered by his anointed successor, Nicolás Maduro, to harness Chávez’s popularity in order to win a landslide in an election on April 14th. The plan failed.