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Irakli Alasania, leader of the Alliance for Georgia, has given a strong hint that he could soon be able to announce a united front with the National Forum, one of the stronger opposition parties.

In an interview with the Pirweli (First) news agency the former Georgian ambassador to the UN says: "I can speak with confidence that we have very tight, close and politically valuable agreements with the National Forum. Of course, consultations keep to be continued and population will see in nearest future that we talk to the point of key issues. The basic is that we have consensus of opinion on fair elections."

The National Forum remain a popular party as they have not been seen to be part of any internal oppoition squabbling and in general its leaders have not been involved in government so are perceived as "clean hands". However it has also repeatedly said it would not take part in this spring's local elections and so any association with Alasania would be a major boost for him as he prepares to challenge incumbent Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava.

Alasania, who leads the "Our Georgia Free Democrats" party as well as the Alliance as a whole, has also made it clear he intends to compete in the elections despite what many see as bad faith by the government of Mikheil Saakashvili over the promises to deliver election code changes in consensus with the opposition: "We, all political forces, should try the best to uncover planed election irregularities and falsification from the side of the authorities and immediately react to that with the support of the international community. I would like to repeat that all votes for the opposition will be protected and we do not plan to step back. This is not ordinary, general elections — this is a referendum on democracy and a test. Afterwards the international community will evaluate if Georgia deserves to become member of democratic and civilized commonwealth."

On Saturday Mikheil Saakashvili's spokeswoman confirmed the president's intention to promulgate the local elections for 30 May. Previously the president had mentioned this date but had declined to confirm it, leaving many in the opposition to fear he would announce an earlier date, so favouring the better resourced ruling party and cutting off opportunities for campaigning. The decision to confirm the date immediately after the visit of the US Deputy Secretary of State suggested to some that the American delegation had pressed the Georgian side to end the uncertainty. The Georgian parliament, however, has yet to pass the necessary changes in the constitution.