The Egyptian Popular Current announced on Friday that it will form a political party, according to state news agency MENA.

One of the leftist group’s founders is former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi, who has repeatedly stressed the importance of participating in the coming parliamentary elections.

Sabahi was a contender in the June presidential election alongside former army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who won by a landslide.

At a press conference last month, Sabahi stated that “boycotting the parliamentary elections shows weakness and does not help the current political situation.”

Parliamentary elections are expected to be held this summer, with preparations due to kick off this month.