Way out of political deadlock in Georgia?

Although dialogue seems challenging in Georgia,  it can be described as the optimal, if not only, way out of deadlock. The political culture of radicalism and lack of compromise, the favoritism of radical-minded political leader, attribution of concession-making and negotiations to politicians' weakness became a tradition for the last 20 years in the country. Georgia will display the higher level of democratic political maturity as the political opponents do talk and power changes occur as a result of electoral process rather than as a consequence of street protests and revolutions.

The opposition braced for fifth day of protest rallies on April 13, one part of opposition leaders became more vocal in their calls for a dialogue with the authorities, while some of them were doubtful. Views on agenda of the possible meeting also varied to some extent.

Over dozen of opposition parties behind the street protest rallies launched from April 9 to demand President Saakashvili's resignation, stated Monday would mark the start of "new wave" of protests involving wider geographical area both in Tbilisi and in regions. The opposition launches the rally outside the Parliament at 3pm local time on April 13.

The extra-parliamentary opposition can be broken down into somewhat radical and moderate groups.

The somewhat moderate extra-parliamentary opposition includes Alasania-Republicans-New Rights alliance for Georgia. Irakli Alasania, Georgia's former UN envoy and leader of the Alliance for Georgia, told the rally outside the Parliament that opposition leaders would like to hold "transparent and public" meeting with President Saakashvili (however, he was booed by radical protesters). In his remarks Mr. Alasania did not mention a live televised meeting, instead he was speaking about the need of presence of non-political figures "who enjoy public trust" at the potential meeting between the President and the opposition leaders. The dialogue should not necessarily be limited to the presidential resignation. Mr. Alasania further mentioned the necessity of system change rather than focus on the change of a certain specific individual; The team described themselves as non-violent democratic opposition and responsible politicians.

The more radical extra-parliamentary opposition includes other rally organizer opposition parties. The indicated opposition leaders, who spoke to protesters after Mr.Alasania, were making focus on the need of "televised talks." Salome Zourabichvili, a former foreign minister and a leader of Georgia's Way party, told protesters that "the only issue of this meeting will be his [Saakashvili] resignation." The "new wave" of demonstration would cover entire Georgia from Monday, Zviad Dzidziguri, co-leader of Conservative Party, stated in an announcement made on behalf of the rallies' organizing committee, involving more than dozen of opposition parties, "It would involve picketing of more [government] buildings in Tbilisi and not only in Tbilisi." That is the opposition nonviolent form of protest, the way out of the political crisis is considered early presidential elections.

What is the reason behind the two different approaches in the extra-parliamentary opposition: is that the strategy of opposition bargaining or rather a display of divergence of opposition thinking? Interestingly, the dialogue is not popular with the radical protesters.

Amidst the opposition protest the ruling party is calling for dialogue indicating to the negative impact of political crisis on Georgia's economy. The President seems willing to involve in the dialogue with the opposition himself.