MIBG: Spring Session Begins April 5th With Incomplete Parliament
April 1 (MIBG) The first year anniversary of the current parliament is fast approaching. However two seats remain vacant due to ongoing disputes. These seats represent the Uvurkhangai Province and the Songinokhairkhan Distrcit of Ulaanbaatar.
The disputes arose due to conflicts with the new election law which was passed last year. In the Songinokhairkhan District, where three seats represent the district, one of the seats was unable to secure the 28% vote threshold required in order to be elected so a new election is to take place. In the Uvurkhangai Province the election campaigns of two winning MPP members were questioned due to accusations of employing minors for campaigning purposes. The accusations were proven and the candidates were found guilty by local court as well as the General Election Committee of Mongolia in October. As a result, the second place candidates who are members of the Democratic Party (DP) were to be sworn in however one of them, Mr. Zorigt, has yet to do so citing a personal decision. However, some local media sources have reported the possibility of Zorigt being sworn in during the spring session. The other DP member, Mr. Batkhuu, was sworn in as a Member of Parliament following a decision of the General Election Committee.
Songinokhairkhan District is represented by three seats, two of which were won by the DP and Justice Coalition candidates. The re-election for the third seat will take place among a MPP and DP candidate, both of whom did not pass the 28% threshold. The candidates are both well known within the community, the MPP candidate is a well known national wrestling champion, Mr.Sumiyabazar (Mogi: also the older brother of sumo champ Asashoryu). While the DP candidate is Mr. Erkhembayar, head of the Songinokhairkhan District DP. The local election committee has proposed that the re-election take place during the Presidential election in order to ensure voter turnout. The Presidential election date is not set yet however it is scheduled to take place in the second half of June.
All things considered, Parliament could be complete by June of this year. However, there are also cases pending in the Uvs Province where the elected MPP members were found guilty of unlawful campaign practices by two levels of district courts. The trial is expected to reach its finale today, the 1st of April at the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court finds the MPP members guilty of cash handouts and the employment of minors for campaigning purposes then two DP members will take their seats.
Additionally, two other members of Parliament are reportedly being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency. They are Mr.Khayankhyarvaa and Mr. Sodbileg, members of the MPP caucus. Mr. Khayankhyarvaa was serving as the Minister of Finance with the previous Government (Mogi: only for a few months when DP exited the coalition government in early 2012) and has reportedly handed out Government benefits on a preferential basis to the District where he ran for re-election. That said, the Anti Corruption Agency has not confirmed the investigation. Mr. Sodbileg is reportedly being investigated for not having complied with campaigning standards having started his election campaign earlier than was legally allowed.
It may yet be a while until Mongolia has a full Parliament. However, it is clear that the new election law is being strongly enforced. Something we expect to carry over into the Presidential elections in June as well. Overall, we believe that the new law and its tough implementation is another strong step forward towards an efficient and representative democracy in Mongolia.
Currently the DP has 33 seats, the MPP has 25 seats, the Justice Coalition has 11 seats, the CWGP has 2 seats, and there are 3 independents bringing the total number of sitting Members to 74. If the pending court decisions and re-elections are won by the DP we could see the party move up to 37 seats. While this could increase their voice and decrease that of the MPP it would still be two seats short of a majority.
The disputes arose due to conflicts with the new election law which was passed last year. In the Songinokhairkhan District, where three seats represent the district, one of the seats was unable to secure the 28% vote threshold required in order to be elected so a new election is to take place. In the Uvurkhangai Province the election campaigns of two winning MPP members were questioned due to accusations of employing minors for campaigning purposes. The accusations were proven and the candidates were found guilty by local court as well as the General Election Committee of Mongolia in October. As a result, the second place candidates who are members of the Democratic Party (DP) were to be sworn in however one of them, Mr. Zorigt, has yet to do so citing a personal decision. However, some local media sources have reported the possibility of Zorigt being sworn in during the spring session. The other DP member, Mr. Batkhuu, was sworn in as a Member of Parliament following a decision of the General Election Committee.
Songinokhairkhan District is represented by three seats, two of which were won by the DP and Justice Coalition candidates. The re-election for the third seat will take place among a MPP and DP candidate, both of whom did not pass the 28% threshold. The candidates are both well known within the community, the MPP candidate is a well known national wrestling champion, Mr.Sumiyabazar (Mogi: also the older brother of sumo champ Asashoryu). While the DP candidate is Mr. Erkhembayar, head of the Songinokhairkhan District DP. The local election committee has proposed that the re-election take place during the Presidential election in order to ensure voter turnout. The Presidential election date is not set yet however it is scheduled to take place in the second half of June.
All things considered, Parliament could be complete by June of this year. However, there are also cases pending in the Uvs Province where the elected MPP members were found guilty of unlawful campaign practices by two levels of district courts. The trial is expected to reach its finale today, the 1st of April at the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court finds the MPP members guilty of cash handouts and the employment of minors for campaigning purposes then two DP members will take their seats.
Additionally, two other members of Parliament are reportedly being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Agency. They are Mr.Khayankhyarvaa and Mr. Sodbileg, members of the MPP caucus. Mr. Khayankhyarvaa was serving as the Minister of Finance with the previous Government (Mogi: only for a few months when DP exited the coalition government in early 2012) and has reportedly handed out Government benefits on a preferential basis to the District where he ran for re-election. That said, the Anti Corruption Agency has not confirmed the investigation. Mr. Sodbileg is reportedly being investigated for not having complied with campaigning standards having started his election campaign earlier than was legally allowed.
It may yet be a while until Mongolia has a full Parliament. However, it is clear that the new election law is being strongly enforced. Something we expect to carry over into the Presidential elections in June as well. Overall, we believe that the new law and its tough implementation is another strong step forward towards an efficient and representative democracy in Mongolia.
Currently the DP has 33 seats, the MPP has 25 seats, the Justice Coalition has 11 seats, the CWGP has 2 seats, and there are 3 independents bringing the total number of sitting Members to 74. If the pending court decisions and re-elections are won by the DP we could see the party move up to 37 seats. While this could increase their voice and decrease that of the MPP it would still be two seats short of a majority.
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