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Opposition Lawmaker Resigns Over Health Problems


Mane Tandilian campaigning with the Bright Armenia party ahead of the December 9, 2018 snap parliamentary elections in Armenia.
Mane Tandilian campaigning with the Bright Armenia party ahead of the December 9, 2018 snap parliamentary elections in Armenia.

An Armenian opposition lawmaker has announced her decision to give up her parliament seat and leave her political party’s governing body over “long-term health problems.”

“For a long time now I have tried to solve these health problems in parallel with my work. However, it has become clear that they are no longer compatible with my parliamentary duties and active political engagement,” said Mane Tandilian, a member of the opposition Bright Armenia party who briefly served as a minister in the post-revolution government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, in a Facebook post on Friday.

The 42-year-old lawmaker known for her harsh criticism of the current government did not elaborate on what particular health problems she experiences. She only said that she would not make any further statement or comment on that matter.

In her post Tandilian also thanked her political team, Bright Armenia, for their journey together and wished the party led by outspoken government critic Edmon Marukian “new successes for the benefit of the Republic of Armenia.”

The outgoing lawmaker will be replaced by another Bright Armenia member, the party said in a statement later today.

Tandilian became prominent as a member of a civic movement opposing a controversial pension reform in 2014. Along with some other activists she was first elected to parliament in 2017 and was a member of the opposition Yelk alliance that was led by then opposition leader Nikol Pashinian.

Tandilian was appointed minister of labor and social affairs in the government formed by Pashinian after the latter came to power as a result of widespread anti-government protests in May 2018. She tendered her resignation over the enforcement of the pension reform a month later, but Pashinian did not accept it and she continued her term until November when she resigned to run for parliament on the slate of the Bright Armenia party.

Bright Armenia appeared in opposition to the Pashinian-led My Step alliance in the new parliament elected in December 2018.

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