The political party founded by former army chief of staff Sami Anan has called for parliamentary elections to be delayed, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported

Masr Al-Orouba party wants to delay the elections, expected in May 2015, until an administrative court issues a decision regarding the party’s foundation, which the council for political party affairs contested in early December.

The administrative court will begin examining the case on 20 January.

The electoral constituencies law was presented to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday for a final procedural ratification, the last step needed before parliamentary elections.

If the law is ratified by El-Sisi, it will give the green-light for the Higher Election Committee to ‎start preparations for the final election procedures and set‎ a date for candidate registration in the polls.

The fact that no decision has been issued yet regarding the foundation of Masr Al-Orouba party makes it ineligible to run in the election.

The council for political party affairs has not accepted the papers of Masr Al-Orouba or the Arab Popular Movement, a party launched by Tamarod, the group which launched protests against president Mohamed Morsi. The registration papers for both parties have been referred to the higher administrative court.

Anan was appointed army chief of staff by Hosni Mubarak in 2005 and served until 2012, when he was forced to retire from his post by Mohamed Morsi.