Georgia: treading carefully

Although Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili won a second term in January elections described by international observers as largely free and fair, opposition groups still contest the election results and continue to register their unhappiness with the president's rule.

The leaders of all leading opposition parties have made a list of 17 demands -- ranging from the introduction of a proportional representation electoral system to the resignation of the interior minister and an investigation into the violent crackdown on anti-government protestors on November 7. They have given Saakashvili a Friday deadline to meet their demands. Should he fail to do so, the opposition said it would boycott the parliamentary elections expected in spring and stage a permanent rally outside the parliament building.

The threat to boycott elections could prove counter-productive, as these have been scheduled on the opposition's demands. Staging a large-scale permanent rally is also unlikely to succeed. The opposition has been left weakened after the election -- the demonstrations that opposition leaders organised after the Orthodox Christmas holiday fell short of their expectations.

Yet Saakashvili, having won with only 52% of the vote, will have to tread carefully. His ability to maintain dialogue with the opposition -- and avoid the use of force -- will be key to a coherent domestic policy during his second term in office.