Political parties established for five consecutive years will be allowed to name candidates to run in the presidential elections in accordance with amendments to Article 76 of constitution, well-placed political sources said Tuesday 27/2.

Candidates who are members, at least for one year, at the parties' higher boards are only entitled to vie in the presidential race under the new amendments.

A party should further capture at least 3 percent of seats, both in the lower and upper houses of parliament; namely, 14 seats in the People's Assembly and six seats in the Shura Council, the sources added.

The current percentage stands at five percent at both chambers (23 and nine seats respectively).

Parties, however, will be given a ten-year transitional period to meet these conditions, but allowed to run in the presidential race if they are represented for the time being in the legislature, which now applies only to Al-Wafd and Al-Tagmu parties.

The sources further said that the ad hoc parliamentary committees drafting the new changes proposed that the president of the republic would not be entitled to disband parliament twice a year. Article 88 will be further amended to establish an independent commission to supervise the elections, the sources said.