Venezuela’s election authority certified Nicolas Maduro’s victory in the weekend Presidential elections despite his opponent’s demand for a recount. Henrique Capriles is calling for street protests when Tuesday comes around to South America.

Maduro, a 50-year-old former bus driver who rose to become Hugo Chavez’ anointed successor, received 50.7 percent of the votes.  Capriles had temporarily stepped down as governor of Miranda state to run, garnered 49.1 percent.

It’s not clear how Capriles will demand a recount, since the election is officially a settled matter.  He’s asking his supporters to gather outside the electoral council Tuesday.

This was Venezuela’s closest election in 50 years.  Hugo Chavez beat Capriles by 11 points last October, and Chavez was pretty much sidelined from campaigning because of his advanced cancer.

Caracas was more or less peaceful today, with bubbling anger in the areas that favored Capriles.  Rock-throwing conservative students clashed with National Guard troops in riot gear who fired tear gas and plastic bullets to turn the protesters back from marching on the city center.