–    The following parties represented in the 15th Bundestag as defined in Article 18 (4) 1. of the Federal Electoral Law: 

1. Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD),
2. Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU),
3. Christlich-Soziale Union in Bayern e.V. (CSU),
4. BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (GRÜNE),
5. Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP). 

      –    In addition the following parties: 

6. Die Linkspartei.PDS (Die Linke.), until that change of name based on a party conference decision of 17 July 2005: Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus (PDS),

–      represented by 33 members in the House of Representatives of the Land of Berlin since its latest elections on 21 October 2001

–      represented by 29 members in the Landtag of Brandenburg since the latest Landtag elections on 19 September 2004

–      represented by 13 members in the Landtag of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since the latest Landtag elections on 22 September 2002

–      represented by 31 members in the Landtag of the Free State of Saxony since the latest Landtag elections on 19 September 2004

–      represented by 25 members in the Landtag of Saxony-Anhalt since the latest Landtag elections on 21 April 2002

–      represented by 28 members in the Landtag of the Free State of Thuringia since the latest Landtag elections on 13 June 2004

7.   Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD),

represented by 12 members in the Landtag of the Free State of Saxony since the latest Landtag elections on 19 September 2004

8.   DEUTSCHE VOLKSUNION (DVU),

represented by 6 members in the Landtag of Brandenburg since the latest Landtag elections on 19 September 2004 

The Federal Electoral Committee has ascertained in addition that the following 26 associations will have to be recognised as political parties for the elections to the 16th Bundestag; they are listed chronologically by their registration as participating in the elections:

• 1. STATT Partei DIE UNABHÄNGIGEN – STATT Partei –
• 2. UNABHÄNGIGE KANDIDATEN …für Direkte Demokratie + bürgernahe Lösungen – UNABHÄNGIGE –
• 3. DIE REPUBLIKANER – REP –
• 4. Partei für Arbeit, Rechtsstaat, Tierschutz, Elitenförderung und basisdemokratische Initiative – Die PARTEI –
• 5. Partei für Soziale Gleichheit, Sektion der Vierten Internationale – PSG –
• 6. Pro Deutsche Mitte - Initiative Pro D-Mark - – Pro DM –& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /li>
• 7. Bayernpartei – BP –
• 8. Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Deutschlands – MLPD –& amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; amp; lt; /li>
• 9. Feministische Partei DIE FRAUEN – DIE FRAUEN –
• 10. Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz – Die Tierschutzpartei –
• 11. Bürgerrechtsbewegung Solidarität – BüSo –
• 12. DIE GRAUEN – Graue Panther – GRAUE –
• 13. Deutsche Gemeinschaft für Gerechtigkeit – DGG –
• 14. PERSPEKTIVE – PERSPEKTIVE –
• 15. 50Plus-Bürger- und Wählerinitiative für Brandenburg – 50Plus –
• 16. Humanistische Partei – HP –
• 17. Ab jetzt ··· Bündnis für Deutschland Partei für Volksabstimmung und gegen Zuwanderung ins „Soziale Netz“ – Deutschland –
• 18. Allianz für Gesundheit, Frieden und soziale Gerechtigkeit – AGFG –
• 19. Deutsche Zentrumspartei – Älteste Partei Deutschlands gegründet 1870 – ZENTRUM –
• 20. HumanwirtschaftsparteI
• 21. Partei Rechtsstaatlicher Offensive – Offensive D –< /li>
• 22. Partei Bibeltreuer Christen – PBC –
• 23. Deutsche Soziale Union – DSU –
• 24. FAMILIEN-PARTEI DEUTSCHLANDS – FAMILIE –
• 25. CHRISTLICHE MITTE – Für ein Deutschland nach GOTTES Geboten – CM –
• 26. Anarchistische Pogo-Partei Deutschlands – APPD –

The "Arbeit & soziale Gerechtigkeit – Die Wahlalternative – WASG" – the „Deutsche Kommunistische Partei – DKP –“ and the „ Partei der Sozialen Gerechtigkeit – PSG –“ have withdrawn their registration as participating in the elections. 

The above-mentioned parties which have been recognised by the Federal Electoral Committee for the 2005 elections to the Bundestag have to submit supporting signatures for their lists of candidates. Supporting signatures of a minimum of 200 persons entitled to vote in a specific constituency are required for an election proposal at the constituency level, while the signatures of at least one of each 1,000 persons of a given Land, who were entitled to vote during the latest Bundestag elections, but of not more than 2,000 persons are required for placing a proposal for a candidate in the Land list. 

At the constituency and the Land levels, the lists of candidates will have to be received by the competent constituency returning officers and land returning officers, respectively, by 15 August 2005 at 6 p.m. at the latest. The admission will be decided upon by Constituency Electoral Committees and Land Electoral Committees, respectively, on 19 August 2005.

For further information please contact:
Manfred Thoma,
tel: (+49-611) 75–2012,
e-mail: bundeswahlleiter@destatis.de