Lucine Argutian

Lucine Argutian
Member of the Directory
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 July 2017
Preceded by	Tigran Papazian
Constituency	Mysia
Member of the National Convention for Mysia's 1st constituency
In office 18 July 2006 – 20 July 2010
Preceded by	Petros Geyserian
Succeeded by	Tamar Roben
Personal details
Born	Lucine Maria Xiphilinos Argutian (1987-07-15) 15 July 1987 Anastasiopolis, Mysia, Vardana
Political party	Radical
Parent(s)	David Argutian Madlene Xiphilinos
Alma mater	University of [TBD] University of Sophene (LLM)

Lucine Argutian (Լucինե Մարիա Արտավազդ Արգuտիան; b. 15 July 1987) is a Vardanan attorney and politician who has served as a Member of the Directory representing Mysia since 2017. A member of the Radical Party, she is the youngest person ever elected to the Directory and the first member to be born after the signing of the 1985 constitution.

Argutian was born in Anastasiopolis, Mysia. Her father is statesman and diplomat David Argutian, who served as Premier of Entene from 1981 until 1985 and Ambassador to Yisrael in the early 1990s, while her mother is Madlene Xiphilinos, an actress, socialite and distant relative of the Xiphilinos dynasty. At age 19, she successfully ran for seat in the National Convention, becoming the youngest individual to serve in the legislative body. During her tenure as a deputy, she was a vocal supporter of education reform. Argutian did not stand for re-election in 2010. She holds a degree in education from the University of [TBD], and an LLM degree from the University of Sophene.

In 2017 she was elected to the Directory of Vardana and in 2018 was appointed a deputy to Director-General Anastas Barkhudar.

Background

Argutian was born on 15 July 1987 in Anastasiopolis, Mysia.

Her father is David Argutian, a prominent Vardanan statesmen who held posts such as Premier of Entene, Ambassador to Yisrael, and was a member of the Revolutionary Workers' Party's 18th, 19th and 20th Politburos. He also served as deputy party secretary in 1984 under Arman Boghossian. Her mother, Madlene Xiphilinos, is a prominent actress and socialite, best known for her role in the 1986 film Redemption. She has two older brothers, David and Tigran.

Argutian was a student at St Helene secondary school, a private boarding school in Sophene. However from 1994 to 1999, she also attended Woodford Academy for International Students, an Arthuristan-run private school, in Yerushalayim, while her father was serving as Ambassador to Yisrael. She resided in Yerushalayim for the entire duration of her father's ambassadorship.

National Convention

Argutian was said to have an interest in politics from an early age due to the exposure provided from her father's career. According to a 2017 interview, she dreamed of running for office and was originally inspired by her father and Arman Boghossian, the latter of whom is her godfather.

She became the youngest person to stand for election in the National Convention, announcing her candidacy for Mysia's 1st constituency when she was 18 years old. Her nomination as member of the Radical Party was confirmed at the party's 2006 convention, allowing Argutian to face Republican Spirit-incumbent Petros Geyserian. On election night, she defeated Geyserian, earning a plurality of 39% of votes. At 19 years old, she was sworn in as the youngest member of the National Convention and first member of the legislature to be born after the 1985 constitution.

Tenure

In July 2006, Argutian was appointed to the Committee on Education and Social Services, eventually serving as Vice Chair from 2009 until 2010. By January 2008, she was appointed to the Select Committee on Intelligence and Oversight. She was a member of the Progressive Conference of Radicals, New Radicals, and the Rose Alliance caucuses within the National Convention.

Argutian was appointed to the Radical Party's national executive committee in November 2009.

She supported the impeachment and removal of Penyamin Bartev, Director-General and Member of the Directory. In the subsequent 2010 special directorial election, she endorsed Anastas Barkhudar.

Argutian chose not to run for re-election and vacated her seat after the new convention was sworn in, on 20 July 2010.

Education and career

Argutian originally enrolled at the University of Sophene for the fall 2006 semester while she was running for National Convention with the intention of studying pre-law. However, upon her election in July 2006, she dis-enrolled from university in order focus her time on her office.

Argutian again enrolled at the University of Sophene in fall 2010, following her tenure in the National Convention. While at Sophene, she studied pre-law. She was a member of various student groups, and remained a member of the Radical Party's national executive committee. She studied a terms abroad at the University of Loweport, in Arthurista, and Ateze Provincial University, in Sante Reze. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she was enrolled in the Law Program at the University of Sophene and completed the accelerated study program by 2015.

She became a member of the Mysian and national barristers societies, and briefly practiced law as a public defender based out of Sophene.

Director of Vardana

Ahead of the 2017 directorial election, Argutian announced her intention to stand in the Radical Party's primary election. Ahead of primary day, Argutian was polling in third, but received the endorsement of party leader and Director-General Anastas Barkhudar, along with other members of the Radical Party's executive committee. On 17 January 2017, Argutian finished second in the first round of primary voting. Two weeks later, Argutian was victorious over the presumed nominee, Adour Ardzruni, earning 56% of the party-wide vote in Mysia. After earning the Radical Party's nomination, Argutian was polling at 44%, putting her ahead of incumbent Director, Tigran Papazian.

Following the first round of voting, Argutian earned a plurality of votes, at 37%, allowing her to reach the second and final round of voting for the Mysia Directorial office against incumbent Papazian. On 19 June 2017, Argutian was victorious, earning a majority of votes with 58%. Upon her election, she became the youngest Director and the first Director to be born after the 1985 constitution was put into effect.

Deputy to the Director-General

In 2018, Argutian was appointed Second Deputy to Director-General Barkhudar.

See also

• List of Directors of Vardana from Mysia

Political offices
Preceded by Petros Geyserian	Member of the National Convention for Mysia's 1st constituency 2006–2010	Succeeded by Tamar Roben
Preceded by Tigran Papazian	Member of the Directory from Mysia 2017–present	Incumbent