Venezuela's electoral authority on Wednesday ruled out a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro this year, a major blow to efforts by opponents to oust him.

A recall vote has to be held by January 10 in order to trigger new elections. After that date, Maduro's hand-picked vice president would serve out the rest of his term, to 2019.

"The event could be held in the middle of the first quarter of 2017," the National Electoral Council (CNE) said in a statement.