Ulaanbaatar seeking stability after weeks of protests

Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has called for a vote of confidence in Parliament, after protesters accused him of promoting corruption and inequality. Instead, the PM blames instead mining oligarchs for the problems. Meanwhile, fears are growing that the powers of the country’s presidency might be enhanced ahead of the 2027 elections.

Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews) – This morning, Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene presented a motion of confidence to Parliament, which he had announced yesterday during a cabinet meeting.

The motion aims to accelerate the implementation of the main objectives of the 2024–2028 action plan, which includes setting up the Chinggis Khaan Sovereign Wealth Fund, 14 megaprojects, energy sector reforms, and a balanced regional development policy, Montsame, Mongolia’s national news agency, reported.

Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene said that he would resign if parliament did not back his coalition government in an open vote rather than a secret ballot.

This step comes amid growing political instability. For the past two weeks, protesters, mostly young people, have invaded the central square of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, accusing the government of corruption.

The protests were triggered by pictures on social media showing the prime minister's son, Temuulen, throwing lavish parties and offering luxury gifts to his girlfriend, reopening a debate over inequality and corruption in the Mongolian government.

In just a few days, a government crisis followed. The Mongolian People's Party (MPP), which holds 68 seats, pushed out the Democratic Party (DP) – which controls 42 – from the coalition, accusing some of its members of backing the protests and betraying the coalition agreements.

The coalition also includes the HUN party, which has eight seats.

The DP has also been blamed for thwarting the government’s plans by blocking parliamentary votes.

Oyun-Erdene became prime minister in 2021, in the wake of previous protests, and was reappointed in 2024, after promising to fight the oligarchy that controls mining and exports of rare minerals, which Mongolia is rich in.

His stated goal is to diversify the country’s economy – dependent on mining, which accounts for a quarter of gross domestic product – and boost foreign investment.

Oyun-Erdene’s supporters point out that the prime minister brought stability to the country for the first time since the democratic transition in 1990, improving its credit rating and making important economic deals with international partners.

After an initial silence, the prime minister accused mining conglomerates of promoting and fuelling the protests, stressing that his son’s social media posts were personal.

He added that Mongolia’s Anti-Corruption Agency is investigating the matter and has offered to resign voluntarily if the agency discovers any budget irregularities.

The protesters, on the other hand, are not only calling for Oyun-Erdene to resign and dissolve his government, but they are also demanding that the current constitution not be changed.

Many Mongolians fear that the incumbent president, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, a member of the ruling MPP and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, wants to change the constitution so that he can run for a second term, an option unavailable in the existing constitution.

Rumours swirl in the country that Khürelsükh wants to curb the powers of parliament in favour of a presidential form of government, citing the examples of Russia and China, which are considered more stable thanks to a strong presidency.

Some analysts believe that the MPP, in view of the 2027 presidential elections, is splitting into two camps over this issue.

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• political crisis
• vote of confidence
• protests
• luvsannamsrain oyun-erdene
• ukhnaagiin khürelsükh