Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has stepped down following a loss of confidence vote in parliament. The decision comes after weeks of mass protests over corruption allegations, spurred by social media posts about his son’s extravagant lifestyle, including a lavish birthday party and engagement. Oyun-Erdene, who assumed office in 2021, will continue as caretaker PM until a successor is appointed within 30 days. Despite the allegations and public demonstrations, the Prime Minister denies any wrongdoing, attributing the situation to a smear campaign against him.
The demonstrations saw hundreds, many young people, demanding his resignation, particularly over the apparent disparity in wealth within his family and the source of their riches. The resignation highlights Mongolia’s ongoing struggle with corruption, which has worsened since Oyun-Erdene’s tenure. According to Transparency International, Mongolia ranks 114th out of 180 countries in terms of government transparency. This follows a broader trend of corruption issues in Mongolian politics, with the US recently pursuing the forfeiture of properties belonging to a former Prime Minister, Sukhbaatar Batbold, allegedly bought with misappropriated funds.
Mongolia, historically a communist state nestled between Russia and China, began transitioning to democracy in the early 1990s after the fall of the Soviet Union. The country has been keen to strengthen ties with Western nations as part of its “third neighbour” foreign policy, aiming to engage with the United States and European countries. The Prime Minister’s resignation underscores significant political challenges and the need for reforms to combat pervasive corruption and address public concerns over governance and accountability.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yg8dxv5w9o
