Mongolian parliament ousts PM

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Mongolia’s parliament voted to oust Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat for alleged incompetence and corruption on Thursday.

The corruption allegations were related to the signing of government contracts with companies tied to his Cabinet members.

Out of 73 members of Mongolia's legislature, 42 lawmakers including 33 from the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), eight from opposition Democratic Party and one independent voted for dismissal of Erdenebat and his 15 cabinet ministers.

A bloc of lawmakers from the ruling Mongolian People's Party joined with opposition Democratic Party lawmakers demanding that Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat resign for allegedly violating parliamentary procedures.

Mongolia's Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat (C) making a speech during the parliamentary assembly in Ulan Bator on September 7, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

Legislators accused Erdenebat of granting 800 billion tugrik (328 million US dollars) in concessions to eight companies related to his cabinet ministers, providing illegal cash allowances to voters and presenting a poor image to the public.

Erdenebat's cabinet was formed in July, 2016 and will be dismissed after 14 months in office.

Erdenebat has fiercely denied the allegations and in a statement before the vote, he lashed out against "Mongolia's practice of ousting its cabinet," which he said had been toxic to the "country's development and poisoned our economy."

The outgoing prime minister noted that the country had seen 13 governments in the last 25 years. Only two finished full four-year term and other 11 resigned in half-way or worked in 1-2 year period.

“The resignation of a government in a democratic parliament is a normal occurrence, but it can be harmful if a good thing goes beyond its norms,” Erdenebat said in a statement on parliament’s website.

His cabinet members also refuted the allegations and said they have nothing to do with awarding of the government contracts to companies associated with their families.

Mongolia's Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat (back) stands as the national anthem is playing during the closing of Mongolia's parliamentary assembly in Ulan Bator. /AFP Photo

International investors and businesses always worry about political stability in Mongolia and hoped that under the governance of MPP, Mongolian government would be stable. This is the first time, that ruling party lawmakers from MPP which controls 65 seats in the parliament dismissed its government for incompetence and closed shadow dealing with special interest businesses.

MPP now has 45 days to appoint a new PM according to Mongolian law. Nomination of new PM and his cabinet members have to be consulted and approved by the president. Until new PM and cabinet are approved by parliament, Erdenebat and his cabinet will serve as acting prime minister and cabinet members.

In Mongolia, the prime minister is the leader of the government, and the president has limited powers including the ability to veto legislation and to propose laws to parliament.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency