Mongolian lawmakers elect new PM after anti-corruption protests

Thousands of young people have demonstrated in the capital Ulaanbaatar in recent weeks. PHOTO: AFP
ULAANBAATAR - Mongolian lawmakers on June 13 swore in former top diplomat Gombojav Zandanshatar as the country's new prime minister, after his predecessor resigned following weeks of anti-corruption protests.
Thousands of young people have demonstrated in the capital Ulaanbaatar in recent weeks, venting frustration at wealthy elites and what they see as pervasive corruption and injustice.
They called for then-prime minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene to step down, and got their wish when the embattled leader announced his resignation last week.
Mr Zandanshatar – also from Mr Oyun-Erdene's ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) – was elected as his replacement in the early hours of Friday morning.
The 52-year-old has been a fixture on Mongolia's fractious political scene for around two decades.
He previously served as foreign minister and chief of staff to President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, as well as parliamentary speaker when the fledgling northern Asian democracy passed key constitutional reforms in 2019.
Before its recent political crisis, Mongolia had been ruled by a three-way coalition government since elections last year resulted in a significantly reduced majority for Mr Oyun-Erdene's MPP.
But last month, the MPP evicted its second-largest member, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Mr Oyun-Erdene's resignation.
That pushed Mr Oyun-Erdene to call a confidence vote in his own government, which he lost after DP lawmakers walked out of the chamber during the ballot.
He announced his resignation on June 3, though has since been serving in a caretaker role pending his replacement.
Mr Zandanshatar takes charge as Mongolia faces a combustive political cocktail of widespread corruption, rising living costs and concerns over the economy.
Since Mr Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, the northern Asian nation's ranking in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index has fallen, and May 's protests erupted after accusations of lavish spending by his son.
Mr Oyun-Erdene has consistently denied accusations of corruption against him and his family. AFP
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