Discussion runs on new bill on Political Parties

Politics
en_amarsaikhan@montsame.mn
2015-12-02 14:35:40

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Citizen’s chamber under President of Mongolia hosted a discussion on the draft new wording of the Law on Political Parties, gathering MPs, officials from parliamentary faction offices, leaders of political parties, analysts, representatives of the General Authority for State Registration, General Election Commission and NGOs, as well as civil society.

Chief of Staff of the President’s Office P.Tsagaan, a chair of this discussion, noted in the opening remarks that making changes to the Law on Political parties has been on the table for a while now, since a working group was set up led by a former adviser to President Ch.Sosormaa in 2011. He said the draft new wording has been prepared by the President Ts.Elbegdorj upon a request delivered this year. Accordingly, the document has been developed on the basis of a study on political party practices of European countries and Ghana.

The new document suggests 10 changes to the Law on Political parties, including turning political parties to policy parties, establishing an monitoring system over accountability of political parties, determining responsibilities of political parties during their participation in the state matters and decision-making, applying “glass account” to political parties, setting out baseline strategies for forming a new party, directing the political parties to settle their political conflicts internally, offering of a flexible organizational structure, banning the parties to have NGOs, factions and orders/medals, organizing new registration for political parties, and settling of property issues.

The new wording also reflects strict regulations over budget distribution in the parties, as they shall have to dedicate 30 percent of their budget for developing policies, more than 30 percent–for building capacity of members, and more than 10 percent--for ensuring of a participation of lobby groups within the party.

If adopted, the law will ban establishing a representative office of political parties in administrative units with less than 3,000 inhabitants, the new parties will have to comprise at least 31 permanent members and need to have more than 3,001 members in order to take part in elections. 

 

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