Politics of Mongolia
The President serves as the head of state with limited authority, primarily in the areas of foreign policy and national security, as well as being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Any political opposition was brutally repressed, and government officials who opposed the Soviet influence were murdered, executed or sent to labour camps.
During the communist regime, collectivisation of livestock, introduction of modern agriculture, limited industrialisation and the urbanisation were carried out without perceptible popular opposition.
The perestroika in the Soviet Union and the democracy movements across Eastern Europe had a profound impact in Mongolian politics.
On the morning of 10 December 1989, the first open pro-democracy demonstration was held in front of the Youth Cultural Centre in Ulaanbaatar.
[19] As a result of the democratic movement that led to 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia, the constitution was amended, removing reference to the MPRP's role as the leading political force in the country, legalising opposition parties and creating a standing legislative body and the office of president in May 1990.
Mongolia's first multi-party elections for the People's Great Khural (Upper Chamber of the Parliament) were held on 29 July 1990.
In addition to establishing Mongolia as an independent, sovereign republic and guaranteeing a number of rights and freedoms, the new constitution restructured the legislative branch of government, creating a unicameral legislature, the State Great Khural, with 76 members.
In June 1993, incumbent Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat won the first direct presidential election, running as the candidate of the democratic opposition.
[20] Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan, election manager of Democratic Union Coalition worked as the prime minister from 7 July 1996 to 23 April 1998.
[22] Due to opposition MPRP's demand Elbegdorj lost confidence vote at the Parliament[23] and was replaced by Janlavyn Narantsatsralt (Democratic Party) on 9 December 1998.
On 20 August 2004, Elbegdorj became the prime minister of Mongolia for the second time leading a grand coalition government.
On 24 May 2009, in 2009 Mongolian presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj made a victory over incumbent President Nambaryn Enkhbayar.
[28] Elbegdorj is Mongolia's first president to never have been a member of the former communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and the first to obtain a Western education.
[36] Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh continued to head the cabinet providing government stability and policy certainty.
[38] In August 2022, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene made a cabinet reshuffle to get legislative support in pushing his liberalization and privatization agenda forward.
The constitution empowers the president to propose a prime minister (upon the recommendation by the dominant political party), call for the government's dismissal (the two-thirds majority of vote needed in the State Great Khural), initiate legislation, veto all or parts of a legislation (the State Great Khural can override the veto with a two-thirds majority),[40][41] and issue decrees (effective with the prime minister's countersignature).
If the president is not able to reach a consensus with the prime minister on the appointment of the Cabinet within a week, the issue is submitted the State Great Khural.
Unlike the president, the prime minister is chosen by the party (or coalition) with the majority of seats in the State Great Khural.
[44] The current prime minister of Mongolia is Mr Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene (Mongolian People's Party).
According to the Constitution, every Mongolian citizen over the age of 18 can participate in elections, or run for government offices including the State Great Khural.
Although there are several controversies (such as the right to vote of prisoners and Mongolian nationals abroad), the US government-funded agency Freedom House considers Mongolia to be a free representative democracy.
Since the fall of the Soviet regime, Mongolian People's Party has been able to maintain a high level of support.
In 2020 legislative election, Mongolian People's Party maintained its majority in the parliament.The new constitution empowered a Judicial General Council (JGC) to select all judges and protect their rights.
However, in 2019, the State Great Khural passed a law that allows the National Security Council (composed of speaker of parliament, president and prime minister) to dismiss judges who are "dishonest", effectively removing their immunity that meant to prevent outside interventions to court decisions.
Various civil movements, international organisations and prominent individuals (including the former president Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj) have denounced the decision, but no action was made so far.
Mongolia is divided in 21 Aimags (provinces) and one municipality/city (khot): Arkhangai, Bayan-Ölgii, Bayankhongor, Bulgan, Darkhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Govi-Altai, Govisümber, Khentii, Khovd, Khövsgöl, Ömnögovi, Orkhon, Övörkhangai, Selenge, Sükhbaatar, Töv, Uvs, Zavkhan, and the city of Ulaanbaatar.
