ULAANBAATAR: Mongolia’s ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) emerged from this week’s polls with its parliamentary majority significantly diminished on Saturday, local media said, after a campaign dominated by graft fears and the state of the economy, AFP reported.
Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene declared victory following the polls to elect 126 members of the State Great Khural, Mongolia’s unicameral parliament. According to figures compiled by local media outlet Ikon from the General Election Commission, the MPP captured 68 seats, maintaining a narrow majority of four seats.
In contrast, the main opposition Democratic Party secured 42 seats, while the minor anti-corruption HUN party won eight seats. Smaller parties collectively garnered eight seats, shaping a diverse new parliament.
The election, conducted under a revised electoral system where Mongolians voted for both proportional lists and individual representatives in large districts, reflects a significant reduction in the MPP’s dominance compared to previous years. In 2020, the MPP held around 80 percent of the seats, whereas now they control 54 percent.
Analysts view this outcome as a notable rebuke to the MPP and its leadership. Bayarlkhagva Munkhnaran, an analyst and former official with Mongolia’s National Security Council, described the election result as a “barely a face-saver” for the MPP, signaling a shift towards a weaker but potentially more democratic government.
“The biggest winners are Mongolian people who resolutely hit the polling stations and confirmed their unequivocal support for a democratic path,” Munkhnaran commented.
The campaign leading up to the elections was marked by public discontent over rampant corruption and the high cost of living, despite a previous economic boom fueled by coal mining. Many Mongolians expressed frustration over the perceived hoarding of wealth by a privileged few, leading to sporadic protests.
In response to the election outcome, voices from the streets of Ulaanbaatar highlighted ongoing dissatisfaction. Myagmariin Dulguun, a 25-year-old bartender who participated in protests, expressed disappointment with the MPP’s victory.
“We need to change the people in power to get rid of corruption,” Dulguun remarked, echoing sentiments shared by other young voters disillusioned with the status quo.
Among the electorate, there is a palpable desire for improved representation and solutions to daily challenges, such as inadequate public transport services during harsh Mongolian winters.
“The MPP was in power when I was a child, and still they are here,” said Oyuntsetseg Khaliun, a first-time voter who supported the Civil Will-Green Party, which secured four seats. “Life hasn’t changed, look at the street,” she added, pointing to enduring issues like long waits for public transport in severe weather conditions.
