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(1) Parties are associations of citizens which influence, either permanently or for a long period of time, the formation of political will at Federal or Local level and participate in the representation of the people in the German Bundestag or Local parliaments (Landtage) provided that they offer sufficient guarantee of the sincerity of their aims in the general character of their circumstances and attendant conditions, particularly in regard to the size and strength of their organization, the number of registered members and their public image. Party members may only be natural persons.
(2) An organization loses its legal status as a party if for a period of six years it has not participated in either Bundestag elections or Landtag elections with candidates of its own.
(3) Political organizations are not deemed to be parties if:
1. most of their members or the members of their executive body are foreigners; or
2. their registered office is located outside the purview of the present Act.