Mongolia has been thrown into fresh political crisis with protesters calling for the resignation of the country\u2019s prime minister over his family\u2019s lavish displays of wealth. <\/p>\n
For two weeks, young Mongolians have taken to the streets of the capital putting pressure on Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai who will face a vote of confidence in his government on Monday. <\/p>\n
Democratic Mongolia is a landlocked nation of just 3.5 million people sandwiched between authoritarian giants China and Russia, and the latest political crisis has put renewed scrutiny on the stability of the country\u2019s democracy. <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what to know: <\/p>\n
The protests were triggered by social media posts that went viral showing the prime minister\u2019s 23-year-old son\u2019s lavish engagement proposal and their apparent extravagant lifestyle including helicopter-rides, an expensive ring, designer handbags and a luxury car. <\/p>\n
Suspicion grew over how the son accumulated such wealth \u2013 especially as Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene campaigned on being from a rural, not wealthy family. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith no visible sources of income, their display of luxury bags, private travel, and high-end living was a blatant slap in the face to the average Mongolian citizen,\u201d said Amina, 28, a member of protest group Ogtsroh Amarhan (Resigning is Easy). <\/p>\n
Amina, who wanted to go by one name for security reasons, said the protests go beyond the social media posts flaunting wealth, which she said were symptomatic of a widening disconnect between the ruling elite and everyday people. <\/p>\n
Deeping the anger is the rising cost of living, soaring inflation in the wake of Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, and choking pollution in the capital that\u2019s home to half the population. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe cost of living in Mongolia has skyrocketed \u2014 many people are paying nearly half of their monthly income in taxes while barely making enough to cover food, rent, or utilities. Most are not living paycheck to paycheck anymore \u2014 they\u2019re living loan to loan, debt to debt,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Protesters have gathered in the capital Ulaanbaatar\u2019s central S\u00fckhbaatar Square, in front of the Government Palace, almost daily for two weeks, calling for Oyun-Erdene to release his finances and resign. <\/p>\n
The Prime Minister\u2019s office called the allegations of financial impropriety \u201ccompletely unfounded.\u201d <\/p>\n
For decades, Mongolia has struggled with endemic graft and protests often break out over allegations that corrupt officials and business leaders were enriching themselves with public funds. <\/p>\n
Mass protests erupted in 2022 over a corruption scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of billions of dollars\u2019 worth of coal destined for China. <\/p>\n
Though analysts say there is no evidence of corruption by Oyun-Erdene, his son\u2019s social media posts deepened the frustration of a public long wary of their elected officials misusing public resources. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want a fair society where ordinary people have a voice, and where government officials are held accountable. Seeing so much inequality, injustice, and arrogance from those in power pushed me to speak up,\u201d said Ariunzaya Khajidmaa, 23, a resident of Ulaanbaatar who joined the protests with her 2-month-old baby. <\/p>\n
Part of public frustration is that even when corruption cases are prosecuted, they are slow to work their way through the judicial system, leading some to question the independence of the judiciary. <\/p>\n
The 2024 Freedom House index said \u201ccorruption and political influence in the daily work of judges remain concerns.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cIf you look at the corruption index, it has gone down. And one explanation is that, even though the Prime Minister has exposed a lot of the corruption cases, nothing has been done. So now everybody\u2019s looking at the judiciary,\u201d said Bolor Lkhaajav, a Mongolian political analyst and commentator. <\/p>\n
The Prime Minister is trying to save his coalition government and parliament, called the State Great Khural, is holding a vote of confidence on Monday. <\/p>\n
Oyun-Erdene and his son have submitted themselves to Mongolia\u2019s anti-corruption agency and the prime minister said he would resign if the investigation uncovered any irregularities. <\/p>\n
His Mongolian People\u2019s Party (MPP) is the largest in the 126-seat parliament, holding 68 seats. But complicating the confidence vote is that the ruling coalition appears to be breaking up. The MPP kicked out its junior partner, the Democratic Party \u2013 which controls 43 seats \u2013 after some of its members supported the protesters. <\/p>\n
The protests are just \u201cthe tip of the iceberg,\u201d said Jargalsaikhan Dambadarjaa, a Mongolian broadcaster and political commentator, who pointed to some of the major economic shifts in the country. <\/p>\n
Oyun-Erdene, who was re-elected to a second term in 2024, had promised to diversify the country\u2019s economy, which is dependent on the mining industry accounting for about a quarter of GDP. <\/p>\n
Mongolia has huge deposits of coal, copper, gold and phosphorite, and about 90% of Mongolia\u2019s coal exports go to China. <\/p>\n
Oyun-Erdene\u2019s coalition government last year announced 14 new mega projects to boost economic growth, including cross-border railway connections and a major expansion of renewable energy. <\/p>\n
And one of Oyun-Erdene\u2019s signature policy centerpieces was establishing a national wealth fund, which the government said aimed to redistribute the country\u2019s assets to the people. <\/p>\n
The Sovereign Wealth Fund law, approved by parliament in April, allows the government to take a 34% stake in mines considered to have strategic mineral deposits, meaning they are vital for the country\u2019s economy and development. <\/p>\n
There are currently 16 such sites and the profits will go into the fund, with portions allocated to benefitting Mongolian people including through financial assistance, healthcare, education, and housing, according to public broadcaster Montsame. <\/p>\n
The move has not sat well with the country\u2019s wealthy and powerful mining elite. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese people, they are now at the edge of losing their power – huge money – which created huge inequality in the country. So they are fighting to the death against this government,\u201d said Jargalsaikhan. <\/p>\n
Mongolia has been a parliamentary democracy since its democratic revolution in 1991. But the years since have seen multiple governments toppled, or leaders shuffled. <\/p>\n
This instability has led some Mongolians to believe the powers of President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, who is head of state, should be extended. Currently, the president can only serve one six-year term. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn this mosaic, those who are supporting presidential power argue that, look at Russia and China, they are one-man presidential powers and they are very stable. They say, we tried this parliamentarian system and it looks like it doesn\u2019t work. That\u2019s their idea,\u201d Jargalsaikhan said. <\/p>\n
Khurelsukh has repeatedly said he does not want to change Mongolia\u2019s parliamentary democracy. However, some believe amending the constitution to extend presidential term limits is on the table. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very crucial time, a very delicate time, and it\u2019s another test to our democracy,\u201d said Jargalsaikhan. \u201cFreedom comes only with the parliamentary system\u2026 If we don\u2019t do that, we will be another failed economy, a failed nation.\u201d <\/p>\n
In a statement, the prime minister\u2019s office said, \u201cthere has been a deliberate attempt to undermine\u201d the reforms of the coalition government by a \u201chostile campaign\u201d that would \u201cturn Mongolia away from a parliamentary democracy and return power and wealth to a small group driven by self-interest.\u201d <\/p>\n
Analysts say Mongolia needs to show it can have stable governance so it can attract broader foreign investment and reduce its economic dependence on China and Russia. <\/p>\n
Khurelsukh last year welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin for an official visit to Mongolia, a trip condemened by Ukraine. The visit was Putin\u2019s first to a member country of the International Criminal Court which had issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges on war crimes. <\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the governments that are looking at Mongolia as an oasis of democracy between Russia and China, so they want to trust us, but at the same time, you have to show some accountability and stability for other governments to say, okay, Mongolia is getting better,\u201d said Bolor. <\/p>\n
Those on the streets say they are tired of political games and want to see tangible improvements to their daily lives. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want stronger anti-corruption measures, public officials who are held to ethical standards, and a system that ensures no one is above the law,\u201d said Ariunzaya. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time for the government to listen to its citizens and take meaningful, lasting action\u2014not just offer words.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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