( CNN ) -- A top Egyptian opposition leader Saturday urged a boycott of parliamentary elections in April , describing them as `` an act of deception . '' Mohamed ElBaradei is one of the leaders of Egypt 's National Salvation Front , a coalition of opposition groups . In a tweet from his official account , he called for the boycott , just like he did three years ago . `` Called for parliamentary election boycott in 2010 to expose sham democracy . Today I repeat my call , will not be part of an act of deception , '' it read . But Essam Erian , a senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood 's Freedom and Justice Party and leader of the majority party in Egypt 's upper house of Parliament , criticized the proposed boycott . `` Evading a popular test [ by not participating in the parliamentary elections ] only means that some people want to assume the executive powers without a democratic mandate , '' Erian said on the party 's Facebook page . `` Participation [ in the upcoming elections ] is the best choice for any politician who has any popular support . Because if he or she has a popular majority then this will be reflected in majority wins or seats won that can translate into participation in the executive branch or remaining in Parliament as an opposition force , '' Erian said . On Saturday , Egypt changed the series of dates for the country 's parliamentary elections in several areas to accommodate Coptic Christians and their Easter celebrations , state-run Middle East News Agency reported . President Mohamed Morsy decreed the changes , the agency said . The first stage of the elections will be held April 22-23 instead of April 27-28 in the governorates of Cairo , Behaira , Minya , Port Said and Northern Sinai . The second stage will be held on May 11-12 instead of May 15-16 in Giza , Alexandria , Sohaj , Bani Swaif , Aswan , Suez , Red Sea and New Valley . The runoff will be held May 19-20 instead of May 22 and 23 in those areas , the agency said . The third stage will be held May 28-29 instead of June 2-3 in Daqahliya , Qalyubia , Monufia , Qena , Damietta , Luxor , Matrouh and South Sinai . The runoff will be held on June 5-6 instead of June 9-10 . The fourth stage will be held on June 15-16 instead of June 19-20 in Sharqia , Gharbia , Assiut , Kafr el-Sheikh , Fayoum and Ismailia . The runoff will be held on June 23-24 instead of June 26 and 27 . The House of Representatives , the lower house in Egypt 's bicameral system , will hold its first session July 2 instead of July 6 , the agency said . The elections will be the first since Egypt 's highest court dissolved the lower house of parliament in June , and it will be the first full Parliament in Morsy 's presidency . The upper house , the Shura Council , has continued to meet . In the past year , violent clashes in Port Said , a coastal province along the Suez Canal , have highlighted the longstanding resentment residents there feel toward Cairo . Previous elections have been held in three stages , rather than four . On Friday , ElBaradei tweeted : Morsy 's `` decision to go for parliamentary elections amidst severe societal polarization & eroding state authority is a recipe for disaster . '' ElBaradei headed the International Atomic Energy Agency , the U.N. nuclear watchdog , from 1997 to 2009 . He also ran unsuccessfully in Egypt 's presidential election last year . CNN 's Amir Ahmed contributed to this report .
Muslim Brotherhood party leader criticizes boycott effort . Egyptian president decrees election schedule change to accommodate Copts . Mohamed ElBaradei urges a boycott of parliamentary elections in April . He says he `` will not be part of an act of deception ''