Aregnaz Manukyan resigns – is the turning point coming for Mother Armenia?

Aregnaz Manukyan resigns – is the turning point coming for Mother Armenia?

On September 22, 2025, Aregnaz Manukyan, a deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia, announced her resignation. Her message, which she shared via her social media channels, made waves in the country's political landscape. Manukyan, a member of the opposition faction “Armenia”, takes this step to join the political movement “Mother Armenia”, as parliament.am reported.

The legal provisions for withdrawal are clearly regulated. According to Articles 155.1 and 155.2 of the Constitutional Law and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, the President of the National Assembly must make a declaration if the representative withdraws her resignation within one week of publication. Otherwise, a protocol will be drawn up certifying the completion of Manukyan's official business, so arminfo.info.

A new course for politics

Manukyan strongly identifies with the goals of the “Mother Armenia” movement, led by Andranik Tevanyan, which has applied for official registration as a political party. This step is seen as an expression of an ethical responsibility towards citizens and the political landscape. Manukyan expresses her gratitude to Robert Kocharyan, the former president and leader of the Armenia bloc, as well as support from her political home, the Dashnaktsutyun party. Their messages are not only symbolic in nature, but also show the importance of the fight for political change in Armenia, noted osteuropa.lpb-bw.de.

“I firmly believe that the citizens' efforts will be fruitful,” Manukyan said, while emphasizing that the fight for a complete transition of power in the country must continue. This belief reflects the spirit of the opposition movement, which has gained significant momentum in recent years, especially after Armen Sarkissyan unexpectedly announced his resignation in January 2022.

Political setbacks and reforms

Armenia has experienced some striking political changes in the last decade. Until the constitutional reform in 2015, the president was directly elected by the people and had extensive powers. This reform significantly shifted the balance of power and transferred many powers to the Prime Minister. The head of government now has control of the armed forces and is the key player in foreign policy, attempting to increase political diversity and shake off the “strongman” image.

Political turmoil in Armenia peaked during the “Velvet Revolution,” when protests against widespread corruption and cronyism erupted, eventually leading to the resignation of Serzh Sargsyan. These events have set the stage for profound political change, and Manukyan's withdrawal could reinforce another wave that has the potential to permanently alter the country's political landscape.