Paola Vessvessian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| National Deputy | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2019 | |
| Constituency | Santa Cruz |
| Minister of Social Development of Santa Cruz | |
| In office 10 December 2015 – 10 December 2019 | |
| Governor | Alicia Kirchner |
| Preceded by | Elsa Capuchinelli |
| Succeeded by | Bárbara Weinzettel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marcela Paola Vessvessian (1971-03-19)19 March 1971 (age 54) Río Gallegos, Argentina |
| Political party | Kolina |
| Other political affiliations | Front for Victory(2003–2017) Unidad Ciudadana(2017–2019) Frente de Todos(2019–present) |
Marcela Paola Vessvessian (born 19 March 1971) is anArgentine politician, currently serving asNational Deputy elected inSanta Cruz. A member ofKolina, she was elected in2019 as part of theFrente de Todos. Vessvessian previously served as Minister of Social Development of Santa Cruz during the first governorship ofAlicia Kirchner (2015–2019).
Vessvessian was born on 19 March 1971 inRío Gallegos,Santa Cruz into a family ofArmenian background.[1][2][3] She has alicenciatura degree on Social Work.[1]
Vessvessian's political career began under the mentorship ofAlicia Kirchner.[4] When Kirchner split from theJusticialist Party and formedKolina, Vessvessian became part of the new party's national authority. During Kirchner's administration theMinistry of Social Development, Vessvessian served as secretary of childhood, adolescence, and families, and chaired the National Committee for the Coordination of Social Policies. In 2015, following Kirchner's election asgovernor of Santa Cruz, Vessvessian was appointed as the province's minister of social development.[5]
In the2019 legislative election, Vessvessian ran for a seat in theNational Chamber of Deputies as the second candidate in theFrente de Todos list, behindPablo Gerardo González. The Frente de Todos list was the most voted in Santa Cruz, with 62.13% of the vote, and both González and Vessvessian were elected.[2] She was sworn in on 4 December 2019.[6]
As a national deputy, Vessvessian formed part of the parliamentary commissions on Petitions, Powers and Norms, Women and Diversity, Sports, Elderly People, Co-operative Affairs and NGOs, and Social Action and Public Health.[2] She was also elected by her peers as president of the bicameral commission to appoint an Ombudsperson for Children.[7] Vessvessian was a supporter of the 2020Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy bill, whichlegalised abortion in Argentina.[8]