On January 22, the Board of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) and the MPP Conference unanimously nominated former Chief Cabinet Secretariat L.Oyun-Erdene as the next prime minister.

In accordance with the law, Chairman of the MPP caucus in Parliament D.Togtokhsuren and Chairman of the Standing Committee on State Structure L.Enkh-Amgalan presented the nomination for the prime minister to Chief of Staff of the President’s Office U.Shijir on the same day.

Upon receiving the official letter, Chief of Staff of the President’s Office U.Shijir assured that a proposal will be submitted to Parliament in the legal timeframe, in accordance with the Article 39.2 of the Constitution.

In accordance with the amendments to the Constitution of 2019, after an appointment, the prime minister will form their Cabinet. The current law allows four lawmakers to be appointed to Cabinet aside from the prime minister.

L.Oyun-Erdene graduated from Bers College with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2001, from the National University of Mongolia with a bachelor’s degree in law in 2008 and from the Mongolian State University of Education with a master’s degree in political sciences in 2011. He studied public administration at Harvard University for a master’s degree in 2015. He was elected to Parliament in 2016 and 2020.

                                          PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS U.KHURELSUKH’S RESIGNATION

During its plenary session on January 21, Parliament held a discussion and voted on the resignation of Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh.

In accordance with corresponding laws, 31st Prime Minister U.Khurelsukh and his entire Cabinet stepped down with an approval of 95.2 percent.

During the session, lawmaker S.Byambatsogt highlighted that this is the first occasion where the prime minister is resigning at his own request since Mongolia adopted its first democratic Constitution in 1992.

Lawmaker Kh.Nyambaatar said that at the end of the demonstration, it led to certain actions that undermined national unity. “I believe that Parliament should impeach the president who neglected his duty to represent the unity of the people,” he said.

“U.Khurelsukh is resigning on behalf of his civil servants, as promised to form a responsible government. It showed that there are many unscrupulous people in the civil service. There are also people who are paid with taxpayers' money but are irresponsible and indifferent to their work. While all businesses have ceased operations and laid off workers, civil servants are paid on a regular basis. On the other hand, the democratic demonstration was distorted and politicized. I think people should be held accountable because they do not want to be politicized and divided,” said Parliamentarian Kh.Bulgantuya.

Lawmaker S.Odontuya said, “The MPP is saying that everything is wrong with the Democratic Party. The DP and the president are not to blame. It was MPP's power struggle and an organized activity. Politicians should not talk like they are seeing this for the first time. Visit the maternity hospitals and the soum centers’ maternity hospital. Don't put on a show. U.Khurelsukh was elected six months ago with the trust of the people, but he cannot escape responsibility. Your government has done a good job against the pandemic. However, the government budgeted for Mongolians living and working abroad the same amount as
one chairperson's jeep. The government did not fund diplomatic missions. I have a complaint about it.”

Highlighting that in the future, president should be involved in such issues, lawmaker T.Dorjkhand said, “the positions of the two members of the National Security Council are different. The demonstration brought ‘wind’ to the society. There is a belief that the younger generation will respect human rights and fight for democracy. The MPP said clearly that the president called for popular unrest. Prove it. If so, the president will be held accountable.”

Independent lawmaker N.Altankhuyag said, “I believe that today's decision is a surrender. You have done a good job in the past. I don't think U.Khurelsukh is giving up his job to become president.”

President Kh.Battulga delivered a speech, saying, “Today is a sad and dark day, as it will be remembered in the history of Mongolia. The 31st Prime Minister of Mongolia. U.Khurelsukh, who had been granted the people’s confidence to lead the ruling power, made an unexpected decision. I am disturbed, in shock, and wondering what pushed the prime minister to take
such a reckless action, to deliberately accuse the president of Mongolia, and to shatter the people’s unity.”

“As of today, national and international jurisdictions have been examining the cases regarding the operation of Oyu Tolgoi project. Some courts have already identified S.Batbold as the main defendant. To conceal his crimes, he is at his work of embroiling the Mongolian government and diminishing the choices of the Mongolian people.”

“The current National Security Council had looked at the pressing issues of the country through a single window. The council members communicated on an unprecedented level of unison. I conclude that today’s actions have brought Mongolia’s democracy back to where it began. I officially announce that Mongolia has come under a governance crisis.”

“I had given the green light to increasing the powers of the prime minister, due to my belief that Cabinet should exercise stability and durability. The results of the 2020 parliamentary election were the expression of the people’s trust in U.Khurelsukh’s ability and personal leadership. Therefore, he does not possess the right to break that trust by abandoning his post in these difficult times as the country fights numerous battles in the face of the pandemic and economic decline.”