Unlike previous elections in Georgia, campaigning in run up to the May 30 local elections were far from being heated and many observers agree that parties tried to focus more on issue-based campaigning this time. The context also differs from recent two elections, when presidential election in January, 2008 was a snap one and holding of parliamentary elections in May, 2008 was decided as a result of referendum less than five months earlier. Tbilisi was the focus of the campaign as the capital city will elect its mayor directly for the first time.