Let’s Talk Politics

Today Mongolians go to the polls to choose a new president.  A state formerly influenced by the Soviet Union, Mongolia only became a two-party system in the early 1990s, making this the fifth presidential election since the country’s post-Soviet constitution was drafted in 1992.

Former Prime Minister and current President Nambaryn Enkhbayar is seeking reelection.  He is the head of the formerly communist Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP).

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj is Enkhbayar’s biggest opponent and a member of the Democratic Party (DP).  He served as Prime Minister from August, 2004 to January, 2006 and again from April, 2008 to December, 2008. Elbegdorj was ousted as head of the DP amidst nationwide riots over a supposedly fraudulent parliamentary election.  He has since been reinstated as head of the party.

The major issue of the election is, undoubtedly, the state of Mongolia’s economy.  Currently, two thirds of it’s 2.9 million citizens live in poverty.

The Mongolian president is elected to a four year term by plurality vote.  Although the office is mostly ceremonial, he does have the power to veto legislation passed by the State Great Hural–the Mongolian legislature.  This veto can be overturned with a 2/3 majority vote by the State Great Hural.

In the last election, the Enkhbayar won heavily, capturing over half of the votes cast.  Mendsayhany Enkhsaikhan, the DP’s candidate and Enkhbayar’s closest competitor, captured slightly less than 20 percent.