What makes President Morsi's invitation for national dialogue with the opposition different this time? Such was the question raised when Morsi expressed readiness at a recent conference on the Nile water, attended mainly by his Islamist supporters, to go for reconciliation. The opposition has already turned down the invitation, seeing it as a mere tactical call related to attempts made to tone down the effect of the scheduled June 30 massive peaceful protests led by the Tamarad (rebel!) campaign. While the authenticity of the invitation has been contested by the opposition, supporters of the President and the Muslim Brotherhood group believe the opposition has wasted one chance after the other to spare the nation a potentially fearful scenario of violence. Mobilisation on the street by those in favour of early presidential elections and others defending the legitimacy of Morsi, hence his right to end his four-year tenure, is getting fiercer with the countdown to June 30. Statements on both sides are fanning anger and causing much fear and panic as to the political future of this country and socio-economic consequences. Clashes are already finding their way to the street between pro- and anti-Morsi cohorts, as in the case of violent incidents in the vicinity of the Ministry of Culture or in Alexandria, forecasting the kind of chaos apt to take place from now until the set date. The fact that some Islamist parties have challenged the opposition intending to rally as well in public squares starting from June 27 has taken speculations to the worst possible consequences. Violent threats on the part of some Islamists have also added to the escalating drama. With all this in consideration, President Morsi's call for dialogue has been pretty much to the point. But if he were sincere about the call he would have stepped forward with one concession in a token of good will. The opposition has been calling for a national unity government, for an ad-hoc panel to amend controversial articles of the constitution, the appointment of a new Public Prosecutor and to cease the arrest of revolutionary activists. Is the President willing to implement any of these demands? Would he take a last-minute decision to defend his seat?
