Mongolian president vetoes dismissal of prime minister

Mongolia’s president has reportedly vetoed a parliamentary resolution to dismiss the prime minister, the official Montsame news agency reported, as political turmoil deepened in the resource-rich country.

Last Friday, MPs in Ulaanbaatar voted to remove Gombojav Zandanshatar as prime minister, citing, among other reasons, his appointment of a minister without prior consultation with parliament.

Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Mongolia’s president since 2021, found irregularities in parliament’s impeachment vote, including the use of an “incorrect voting formula”, Montsame said, citing a statement by the chief of staff on Friday.

The state-owned news agency said the presidential veto is now subject to review under the relevant legal framework.

Politics in this landlocked country located between China and Russia has been rocked by waves of volatility in recent years due to public anger over corruption and a weak domestic economy.

Zandanshatar’s predecessor, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, resigned several months ago after losing the confidence of parliament after accusations of corruption sparked street protests.

Parliament Speaker Daşzegve Amarbayasgalan also resigned last week.

The Mongolian president returned to Ulaanbaatar last Thursday after an official visit to India, where officials reached agreements in areas including oil and gas.