The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) decided yesterday that its candidates for the year-end municipality elections would be chosen through public opinion polls, with all candidates to be announced by the end of May.

The decision was reached during the party’s National Convention held in Taipei yesterday, favoring the option supported by the party’s Central Executive Committee. DPP primaries usually take into consideration party member votes and public opinion polls. But the committee passed draft regulations on Jan. 13 stating that DPP nominees for the municipalities where the party holds power should be selected through public opinion polls.