A prominent Venezuelan politician appeared to be breaking ranks with the opposition coalition Tuesday by challenging leader Nicolas Maduro in the upcoming presidential election.
A campaign consultant for Henri Falcon said the former governor and retired military officer was prepared to declare his candidacy.
Falcon would be the only major politician so far to take on socialist President Maduro, who has led the oil-rich country beset by historic economic and political crisis.
"It's a fact and a right," said consultant Eduardo Semtei, confirming Falcon's run to The Associated Press.
Officials loyal to Maduro recently approved an early presidential election for April 22, drawing broad condemnation from the United States and several of Venezuela's Latin American neighbors who said the conditions for a fair election are lacking.
A coalition of some 20 opposition parties has said it won't participate until the government takes steps to ensure the vote is fair and transparent.
Opposition lawmaker Simon Calzadilla said that the coalition's demand for more electoral guarantees remains firm, despite Falcon's decision. Calzadilla accused the government of continuing to commit "flagrant violations" of the electoral process.
Semtei said, however, that Falcon's challenge is justified by concessions such as the government decision to allow international election observers.
The overall coalition is demanding more extensive changes, including delaying the vote and lifting bans on major political parties. It also wants guarantees that Venezuelans living abroad can vote.
Falcon once served as a top aide to the late President Hugo Chavez, but he later broke with the socialist party and joined the opposition, heading the minority Advanced Progressive party.
Poll: Falcon leads
A poll early this month by the Datanalisis firm showed Falcon leading Maduro by 53 to 47 percent. The survey of 800 people had a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.
Maduro, who declared his candidacy weeks ago, submitted his papers with the national election officials Tuesday, formalizing his campaign.
State television showed Maduro ride to the election headquarters through downtown Caracas streets in the back of a red pickup surrounded by a jubilant sea of supporters waving flags and showered in confetti.
Venezuela sits atop the world's largest oil reserves, but the state-run oil firm's production of crude has plunged under nearly two decades of socialist rule.
The crisis has gotten more dire, with thousands of Venezuelans enduring shortages of food and medicine fleeing to neighboring countries.
