Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar resigns after losing no-confidence vote amid political turmoil
According to reports, Mongolian prime minister Gombojav Zandanshatar has stepped down after losing a parliamentary vote of no confidence, just four months into his term.
A no-confidence vote took place in Mongolia’s 127-seat parliament on Friday, and of the 111 members who voted, 71 supported removing Mr Zandanshatar while 40 were against.
This is the second time in months that a prime minister has been ousted amid ongoing political turmoil in the Central Asian nation, driven by public anger over corruption and a weak domestic economy. The instability has raised doubts about policy continuity and dampened investor confidence in the resource-rich country.
Mr Zandanshatar, 55, was confirmed as the country’s 32nd prime minister in June after his predecessor, Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, resigned when he lost support in parliament. Mr Luvsannamsrai was forced out after weeks of protests sparked by reports of extravagant spending by his son, which quickly broadened into wider public outrage against the country’s political elite.
Friday’s vote followed the submission on 10 October of a motion by more than 50 legislators to dismiss Mr Zandanshatar.
They alleged constitutional violations in the prime minister’s recent appointment of a new minister of justice and home affairs.
The MPs’ statement said the appointment undermined “the principle of the separation of state powers” because it was made unilaterally, without the parliamentary consultation required by law. He was also criticised for potentially reducing state revenue through a resolution that changed the royalties paid to the government for coal and iron ore in the mineral-rich country.
“[His appointment] encroached on the powers of the President of Mongolia and the State Great Khural, violates the fundamental principles of the constitution, and violates the principle of the rule of law,” parliamentarians wrote in a statement.
Mr Zandanshatar, a former banker educated in Russia, has previously served as foreign minister, chief of the cabinet secretariat, and speaker of the State Great Khural parliament.
Mongolia, heavily dependent on exporting raw materials to China, is seeking to develop “critical” minerals needed for the green energy transition.
Yet the landlocked democracy, wedged between Russia and China, has struggled to turn its resource wealth into broad benefits for citizens and is now contending with rising inflation.
His resignation comes a day after Amarbayasglan Dashzegve of his Mongolian People’s Party stepped down as parliament speaker following calls from members of his own party for an ethics investigation.
Politics Editor
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