Venezuela: Opposition's Falcon Signs May 20 Election Agreement

Venezuela's presidential election candidates, including incumbent President Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Henri Falcon, have signed the electoral guarantees agreement at the National Electoral Council (CNE) headquarters in Caracas. 

Saying he wants to become "the president of national reconciliation," Maduro reaffirmed his commitment to the ratified Democratic Coexistence Agreement for Venezuela, which came as a result of dialogue between the government and the opposition in the Dominican Republic in February. 

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Maduro, after signing the electoral guarantees agreement Friday at the CNE headquarters, said: "I am prepared to comply with the ratified agreement in the Dominican Republic and expand guarantees for a fair, participatory and high-level electoral campaign."

Maduro also called for unity in the interest of the Venezuelan people and harshly criticised the groups which have chosen to boycott the election. 

"Some political parties do not want to participate in the elections because they know that we are going to win them," he said, insisting that all parties should act in the interest of Venezuela and "put aside their differences."

Maduro also criticised external players threatening Venezuela's sovereignty: "Neither (Pedro Pablo) Kuczynski nor (Juan Manuel) Santos nor (Donald) Trump should stick their noses in the sovereignty of Venezuela; the presidency elects the sovereign people of the country."

The agreement approved on Thursday is a "ratification of the Dominican Republic agreement," Maduro said.

Meanwhile, former Lara state governor Falcon – expelled by the opposition MUD coalition after registering his candidacy on Tuesday – said the majority of Venezuelans want a peaceful resolution to the nation's woes.

"We are committed to peace, democracy and the accurate fulfillment of our constitution," Falcon said. "We are here because we want to play fair and respect the will of the majority of Venezuelans who seek a peaceful change. We are here because we are committed to peace."

The agreement also establishes that the legislative and municipal elections will also take place on the same date as the recheduled presidential elections: May 20.

Six people have registered as candidates for the presidential elections: current President Nicolas Maduro, Falcon, Reinaldo Quijada, Francisco Visconti, Luis Alejandro Ratti, and the evangelical pastor Javier Bertucci.