Bahrain’s largest opposition movement was joined by four other groups on Saturday in condemning the November parliamentary elections elections.

“Any elections process without a peaceful transfer of power within a system of constitutional monarchy, which is the current situation, will be unilaterally run and based on an unfair electoral system,” the five groups said in a joint statement.

Information Minister Sameera Ebrahim Bin Rajab has condemned the boycott, telling state news agency BNA the move is “an attempt to open the door for foreign interference in our domestic affairs.”

The biggest group, Al-Wefaq movement has engaged in negotiations with the government in recent months, but says talks have reached a brick wall.Al-Wefaq and the other opposition groups say the government is trying to shore up its authoritarian rule with the upcoming vote.

They accused the government of “fully” controlling the vote, and argued the election will be of little consequence until King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa hands parliament more powers – including the ability to appoint the prime minister.

Protests against the Bahraini monarchy first flared in 2011, but were met with widespread repression.

Since then Al-Wefaq and other opposition groups have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest against the authoritarian regime and persecution of Shiites. The Sunni monarchy denies allegations it politically sidelines the Shiite population.

Bahrain is a close ally of neighboring Saudi Arabia and the United States.