Venezuela election: Opposition 'supermajority' confirmed Published duration 9 December 2015

image copyright Reuters image caption Opposition supporters have been celebrating their side's victory

Venezuelan electoral authorities have confirmed that the opposition has won a key two-thirds majority, enabling it to challenge President Nicolas Maduro.

The opposition said it would work to release jailed opposition leaders and address the country's economic crisis.

Mr Maduro has announced a cabinet reshuffle but vowed to veto any amnesty law for jailed politicians.

The election result is the worst for the Socialist movement founded by late leader Hugo Chavez in 1999.

The majority means the Democratic Unity coalition can now make sweeping changes, including replacing Supreme Court judges and making changes to the constitution pending approval in a referendum.

It also wants the release of one of its leaders, Leopoldo Lopez, who was given a 13-year prison sentence for inciting violence - a charge critics say was politically motivated.

But Mr Maduro said he would block any amnesty law.

"The murderers have to be prosecuted and have to pay," he said in a televised address.

He said his Socialist Party would hold an "extraordinary congress" to find out what went wrong at the election.

The opposition meanwhile warned of looming food shortages for Venezuelans.

"We urge the government to stop crying and start working," opposition leader Jesus Torrealba said.

"We're just a few weeks away from a very serious problem in terms of food," he added.

image copyright Reuters image caption President Maduro has announced a cabinet reshuffle

The elections were widely seen as a referendum on President Maduro, the handpicked successor of Hugo Chavez, and the governing PSUV's socialist policies.

The opposition accused Mr Maduro's party of mismanaging the economy and of squandering the country's oil wealth.

Venezuela has been hit hard by the continuing low price of oil, its main export. It also has the continent's highest inflation rate.

Mr Maduro has blamed the situation on an "economic war" waged by the opposition.

The opposition also accused the government of increasing authoritarianism.

Why does the result matter?

It is the first time in 16 years that the PSUV is not in control in Congress - a serious blow to its socialist revolution

At 74.3%, voter participation was high, suggesting a sizeable proportion of the population backed change

The opposition will pose a serious challenge to the government's power to pass legislation

Jailed opposition leaders could be released if the opposition makes good on its promise to pass an amnesty law

It is another blow to left-wing policies in Latin America, coming two weeks after a centre-right candidate won in Argentina's presidential poll

The election result also gives stronger momentum to the opposition should it wish to call a referendum on Mr Maduro's future. This could take place only when his presidency reaches its halfway point in April next year.

However, some prominent opposition figures want to give Mr Maduro the opportunity to change policies they blame for the country's economic crisis.

"If Maduro doesn't change we'll have to change the government. But the opposition's response to the economic crisis right now can't be more politics," Henrique Capriles - who lost to Mr Maduro in the 2013 presidential elections - told AP.

The next presidential election is due in April 2019.

Venezuela's troubled economy 100%+ inflation level for 2015 -10% shrinking of GDP in 2015

-6% projected 2016 downturn

18.1% projected 2016 unemployment rate Reuters

image copyright Reuters