Venezuela said on Monday it had pardoned more than 100 opposition politicians, including more than 20 legislators who had been accused of conspiring against President Nicolas Maduro, as the country heads toward parliamentary elections in December.

The effort signals that the ruling Socialist Party is seeking to boost participation in the upcoming vote, which part of the opposition had vowed to boycott on the grounds.

Those pardoned via a presidential decree include legislator Freddy Guevara, who sought asylum in the Chilean diplomatic residence, as well as Roberto Marrero, who had served as chief of staff to opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Guaido himself was not among those pardoned, though, despite several cases open against him.

The Venezuelan government said the move is "in the interests of promoting national reconciliation."

Chief Prosecutor Tarek Saab said in a telephone interview said that the pardons were meant to "promote political debate" and to "strengthen the right to human suffrage."

"If they return to any act of terrorism, violence or coup-mongering, obviously this benefit will cease," he said.

Many of those mentioned participated in a failed 2019 rebellion that sought to persuade the military to drop their backing for Maduro but ultimately failed to sway top commanders.

Read more: The Heat: Venezuela's political crisis

(With input from Reuters, AFP)