BEIRUT: The 11 members of the Electoral Supervisory Committee set to oversee next year’s parliamentary vote took their oath before President Michel Aoun Monday, officially swearing the body into office.

“Parliamentary elections will be held on time and based on the law agreed upon,” Aoun told the assembled members, according to a tweet from the president’s official account. The long-awaited ceremony was also attended by Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk.

Speaking after meeting with the president, Machnouk said he was optimistic that elections would be held on time and that he would use all available resources to ensure this. The committee’s oath affirms that the elections will be held as agreed, he added.

He said that there was a draft law to develop biometric ID cards, but expressed doubt that these would be used in the next vote.

“As time passes, the necessity of using [the new ID] in the electoral process has diminished.”

Headed by Judge Nadim Abdel-Malek, the committee was officially formed in September following a Cabinet decree signed by Aoun, Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Machnouk and Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil.

Alongside Abdel-Malek, George Mourani was appointed as vice president. The remaining nine members are: Aouni Ramadan, chosen from a list of three former Auditing Department presidents; Andre Sader, chosen by the State Shura Council from a list of three retired judges; Nouhad Jabr, chosen from a list of two former Beirut Bar Association presidents; Philippe Abi Akl, chosen from a list of three names proposed by the Press Federation; Moufac al-Yafi, chosen from a list of three names proposed by the Lebanese Association of Certified Public Accountants; Sylvana al-Lakkis, chosen from a list of three names proposed by civil society representatives; Atallah Ghshem, Karin Geagea and Arda Kamkaji, chosen from a list of six names proposed by the interior minister based on their expertise in elections.

Cabinet approved allocations and salaries for the committee members Last Friday.