A party which has not been continuously represented in the German Bundestag or in a Land parliament since the last election to the relevant assembly by at least five deputies on the basis of nominations made by the party itself may only submit a nomination if it has given the Federal Returning Officer written notice of its intended participation in the election not later than the ninetieth day before the election and has been recognized as a political party by the Federal Electoral Committee not later than the seventy-second day before the election.

The notice must include the name to be used by the party in the election. The written statutes and the written program of the party, as well as certification that the executive committee has been appointed in accordance with the statutes, shall be appended to the notice. The notice must bear the personal handwritten signature of at least three members of the national executive committee, including the chairman or his deputy.

Such notice is not required for European elections.

Legal bases
Bundestag election: Section 18 of the Federal Elections Act (BWG), Section 33 of the Federal Electoral Regulations (BWO)

Last update: March 2008