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Election Date: June 8, 2008

At stake: State Great Hural

Background

For 70 years, modern-day Mongolia functioned as a one-party state. In 1990, a series of public demonstrations led to the resignation of the Soviet-inspired government.

A new constitution was introduced in 1992, which allowed democratic elections for the first time. The communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) remained as the most popular political organization, with 71 lawmakers in the 76-seat legislative branch.

In 1993, Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat—a former communist who ran as the candidate for the democratic opposition—was elected in the first multi-party presidential ballot. In 1996, the Mongolian National Democratic Party (MNDP) formed a government after winning 50 seats in the State Great Hural, but members of the communist MPRP were able to stall legislation by denying a quorum.

In 1997, MPRP chairman Natsagiyn Bagabandi won the presidential vote, eventually earning a new four-year term in 2001 with 57.9 per cent of all cast ballots. The communists regained control of the State Great Hural in 2000, electing 72 lawmakers. Nambaryn Enkhbayar was then appointed as prime minister.

Mongolia relies heavily on bilateral trade with Russia and China. In the past few years, the country has tried to expand its ties with foreign entities, most notably Japan, the United States and the European Union (EU).

In 2004, Mongolian voters renewed the Great State Hural. After the election, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj of the Motherland Democratic Coalition (MDC) became the country’s prime minister. Elbegdorj had served as head of government for a brief period in 1998. He formed a coalition government with the MPRP.

Click here for Mongolia 2004 State Great Hural Election Tracker

On Mar. 29, 2005, more than 1,000 protesters took to the streets in Ulan Bator to demand a new election to the Great State Hural, just before a presidential election took place. The government refused to call an early legislative ballot.

The presidential contest took place in May. Final results gave Nambaryn Enkhbayar of the MPRP the victory with 53.4 per cent of the popular vote. Enkhbayar had been Mongolia’s prime minister from July 2000 to August 2004, and was serving as parliamentary speaker.

In January 2006, the Elbegdorj’s government collapsed after the MPRP retired from the coalition and forced his resignation. Popular protests erupted against what many saw as political manoeuvring by the MPRM to install a majority government.

The MPRM formed a new administration with defectors from Elbegdorj’s Democratic Party (DP) and independent lawmakers. Miyeegombyn Enkhbold, a former Ulan Bator mayor, became prime minister. Elbegdorj retained his position as the DP’s chairman.

In October 2007, Enkhbold lost the MPRP’s chairmanship to Bayar Sanj. Party members decided to push Sanj’s name for prime minister. On Nov. 5, Enkhbold stepped down as Mongolia’s head of government.

On Nov. 22, lawmakers voted 67-2 in favour of Sanj’s nomination for prime minister. Accepting the vote, Sanj declared: "The Mongolian people want justice and to uproot corruption and bureaucracy. These will be my guiding principles as prime minister of Mongolia." The new government assumed office on December 13, 2007.

The national general election is scheduled for Jun. 8. The MPRP currently holds a narrow majority in the legislature, with 39 of 76 seats.

On Mar. 12, prime minister and chairman of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) Sanj Bayar and Democratic Party’s (DP) chairman Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj agreed on the terms of a sensitive bill to reform mining laws in Mongolia. The bill stipulates that Mongolia must own no less than 51 per cent share of total capital funds in case there are foreign investors involved. Both leaders presented the bill to the legislature for approval.

Political Players

President: Natsagiyn Bagabandi - MPRP
Prime minister: Bayar Sanj - MPRP

The president is elected to a four-year term by the popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Ulsyn Ikh-Khural (State Great Hural) has 76 members, elected to four-year terms in single-seat constituencies.  

Results of Last Election:

President - May 20, 2001

State Great Hural - Jun. 27, 2004
(Official results after Jul. 17 re-vote)

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