Mongolian PM resigns after protests, losing parliamentary support
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Mongolia's Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene has resigned after losing a parliamentary confidence vote amid corruption allegations and street protests in Ulaanbaatar.
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Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai walks past journalists as he arrives to vote at a polling station in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia, Friday, June 28, 2024. (AP)
Mongolia's Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene resigned after losing parliamentary backing amid corruption allegations that sparked street protests last month, the country's parliament announced on Tuesday.
The parliament of the world's largest landlocked country failed to approve a draft resolution on a confidence vote, resulting in Oyun-Erdene being automatically considered resigned, according to a parliament statement.
"It was an honour to serve my country and people in difficult times, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs," Oyun-Erdene said after the result of the voting was published. He has held his prime minister position since 2021, and will remain in his post as a caretaker prime minister until his successor is voted in within 30 days.
The political turmoil follows weeks of protests in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, last month, where demonstrators accused Oyun-Erdene and his family of corruption.
In a statement on the Mongolian parliament website, Oyun-Erdene expressed gratitude to the country's youth for their stance on transparency and to citizens for their diverse viewpoints, while also stating that he "regrets this is being used as a political pretext and creating instability."
Oyun-Erdene maintained he had remained committed to combating corruption while acknowledging he prioritized major projects over addressing social and political concerns.
The departing prime minister championed infrastructure and resource development in the mineral-rich nation, proposing 14 large-scale projects that included mineral processing facilities, water diversion schemes, dam constructions, and power plant developments.
