philanthropist, Bidzina Ivanishvili, into politics has change the political landscape in the country, which helped to create some chances for holding free elections, but there is "high probability" that street protest rallies will still be needed, said Nino Burjanadze, ex-parliamentary speaker and leader of Democratic Movement-United Georgia party.
Burjanadze led the street protest rallies this spring which came to a violent end on May 26 after riot police intervened.
Bidzina Ivanishvili did not rule out possibility of cooperation with Burjanadze, but also said that there were questions in her address which required to be clarified. Ivanishvili's team made it clear that "cooperation" did not mean going into political alliances. Ivanishvili has so far named only two parties - Republican Party and Irakli Alasania's party - with whom he was willing to form an alliance to run in the parliamentary elections.
"The major difference that exists between us is that Nino Burjanadze prioritizes street protest rallies; but I rule that out. There are some other questions in her address, but I think we will be able to remove these questions, to agree our positions and to definitely cooperate with Nino Burjanadze... She has a good experience of working in the Parliament in the government," Ivanishvili said in a newspaper interview earlier this month.
Asked about this difference, Nino Burjanadze, who said was ready for cooperation with Ivanishvili, told the daily Rezonansi: "I've always been saying that the government should be changed through elections, but, unfortunately, Saakashvili is creating a reality in which holding of free and democratic elections is impossible, because democratic elections pose a threat to him."
"But today reality has changed to some extent - if previously there was no chance for holding free and democratic elections, today we can say, that certain positive changes are visible. But it requires struggle on the daily basis in order to set media free from the authorities' grip and to make [the authorities] release political prisoners etc."
"The People's Assembly [an umbrella organization behind Burjanadze-led street protests in the spring] has stated, that its goal is to struggle for the country's survival and what method will fit best to achieving this goal - whether street protests or making political statements from offices - should be decided in each concrete case separately."
"As far as Ivanishvili's statement is concerned that he strongly rules out [street protest] rallies, I think, that's his desire, because we all want to hold free and democratic elections in calm atmosphere and to change the government without pain and difficulties. But time will show how real it will be in the current changed conditions," Burjanadze said.
"Street rallies are not the only and the best way of political struggle, but that's definitely one of the options and I do not rule out that street protests will again emerge on the agenda, there is a high probability of that," she add.

Civil.ge