Maneh Tandilyan’s resignation was her own decision, party head says
13.06.2018,
17:07
Edmon Marukyan , the head of the Bright Armenia party, which is a member of the parliamentary Yelk bloc, told reporters today that the decision of a party member Maneh Tandilyan to resign as labor and social affairs minister was her personal decision.
YEREVAN, June 13. /ARKA/. Edmon Marukyan , the head of the Bright Armenia party, which is a member of the parliamentary Yelk bloc, told reporters today that the decision of a party member Maneh Tandilyan to resign as labor and social affairs minister was her personal decision.
Ms. Tandilyan resigned after serving only one month as minister in protest to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s intention to make the funded pension system mandatory for all employees.
Tandilyan was one of the most active protesters against the law in 2014 requiring that all citizens born after 1973 contribute 5% of their income to privately-run pension funds. The protests forced the then government to make the new pension system mandatory for public sector workers only and optional for private sector employees until July 2018.
After her appointment as minister on May 12 Maneh Tandilyan proposed that the deadline be extended by one more year. However, the government decided on Monday that the new pension system will become mandatory for all Armenians born after 1973. The government also asked the National Assembly to reduce the amount of contribution from 5 percent to 2.5 percent of income.
According to Edmon Marukyan, Tandilyan resigned so as not to interfere with the activities of the party to support this government. He said Tandilyan is the deputy chairperson of the party and her decision is very painful.
Marukyan noted also that Tandilyan's decision was a surprise, because her resignation was not discussed with the party. He noted that the prime minister has not yet signed her resignation application.
"Once it is signed, we will nominate another candidate for this post," said Marukyan. -0-
Ms. Tandilyan resigned after serving only one month as minister in protest to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s intention to make the funded pension system mandatory for all employees.
Tandilyan was one of the most active protesters against the law in 2014 requiring that all citizens born after 1973 contribute 5% of their income to privately-run pension funds. The protests forced the then government to make the new pension system mandatory for public sector workers only and optional for private sector employees until July 2018.
After her appointment as minister on May 12 Maneh Tandilyan proposed that the deadline be extended by one more year. However, the government decided on Monday that the new pension system will become mandatory for all Armenians born after 1973. The government also asked the National Assembly to reduce the amount of contribution from 5 percent to 2.5 percent of income.
According to Edmon Marukyan, Tandilyan resigned so as not to interfere with the activities of the party to support this government. He said Tandilyan is the deputy chairperson of the party and her decision is very painful.
Marukyan noted also that Tandilyan's decision was a surprise, because her resignation was not discussed with the party. He noted that the prime minister has not yet signed her resignation application.
"Once it is signed, we will nominate another candidate for this post," said Marukyan. -0-
