( CNN ) -- Hugo Chavez 's handpicked successor was sworn in as Venezuela 's president on Friday . Nicolas Maduro 's inauguration ceremony took a dramatic turn at one point as a man in a red jacket rushed toward the podium in Venezuela 's National Assembly . `` They could have shot me right here . Security has failed , '' Maduro said after the man was taken away . Maduro was quick to regain the floor and spoke for more than two hours , vowing to crack down on any coup attempts to remove him from the presidency and slamming political opponents for waging what he called a `` dirty election campaign '' against him . Maduro 's inauguration comes a day after Venezuela 's National Electoral Council said it would complete 100 % audit of votes cast in Sunday 's election `` to preserve a climate of harmony between Venezuelans . '' Maduro secured 50.8 % of votes in the election while opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski won 49 % , election officials said earlier this week . Capriles had called for a vote-by-vote recount but said late Thursday that he accepted the decision by election officials to audit the tally . The narrow margin has sparked mounting tensions in Venezuela after the closely watched election to pick Chavez 's successor . Venezuela 's state-run AVN news agency said at least eight people have been killed in post-election violence across the country . The government news agency tied the deaths to opposition protests and said the victims were all followers of Maduro . CNN could not independently confirm government reports of violence and it was unknown whether there were any opposition injuries or fatalities . Opposition protesters have sent numerous accounts to CNN 's iReport , criticizing the government and pushing for a recount . In one of his last public appearances before his March 5 death , Chavez said he wanted Maduro to be his successor . Maduro now describes himself as `` Chavez 's son '' and has vowed to continue the late leader 's plans to build `` 21st century socialism . '' On Thursday night , Capriles urged supporters not to be discouraged by Friday 's inauguration and to stay at home and listen to salsa music . `` This fight has not finished . ... I am sure that sooner rather than later the truth will come out , '' he said .
Nicolas Maduro is sworn in as Venezuela 's president . Hugo Chavez tapped him as a candidate . The opposition candidate has called for a boycott ; election officials announce results . Man rushes toward podium ; ` ` He could have killed me right here , '' Maduro says .