Draft Resolution on the Parliamentary Motion of Confidence in Prime Minister Falls Short on Approval
Politics
Ulaanbaatar, June 3, 2025 /MONTSAME/. On its plenary session on June 2, 2025, the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia discussed the draft Resolution on the Parliamentary Motion of Confidence in the Prime Minister of Mongolia.
Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai
introduced the draft Resolution and spoke on the issue on the agenda. He noted,
“Within ten months since its establishment, the Joint Government had
kickstarted several long-stalled projects — the Erdeneburen Hydropower Plant,
which had been proposed over 60 years ago, the energy sector reform and price
liberalization, discussed for more than 30 years, the Mongolia-France uranium
project stalled for 28 years, and the Gashuunsukhait-Gantsmod Cross Border Railway
Project, delayed for over 20 years due to political disputes. The Prime
Minister reminded that Mongolia’s export revenues and overall economy have
doubled, GDP has risen from MNT 37.4 trillion to MNT 80 trillion, GDP per
capita has steadily increased from USD 4,128 to USD 6,898 over the past three
years, the sovereign credit rating has advanced by one level, the Government’s
standing with international financial institutions has strengthened, and
investor interest in Mongolia has grown, recalling base statistics.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on State Institutions of
the State Great Khural and Member of Parliament Bat-Erdene Jadamba presented
the conclusions of the Standing Committee’s discussion on the draft Resolution
on the Parliamentary Motion of Confidence in Prime Minister, noting that 73.9
percent of members of the Standing Committee voted in favor of Confidence in
Prime Minister and deemed it appropriate to have the State Great Khural discuss
the draft Resolution at its plenary session for approval.
After hearing the conclusion of the Standing Committee on
State Institutions, Head of the Democratic Party Faction in the State Great
Khural and Member of Parliament Tsogtgerel Odon expressed the position of the
Party Faction, highlighting that the Party Faction, with 92.9 percent attendance,
discussed the draft Resolution on the Parliamentary Motion of Confidence in
Prime Minister, and through a majority vote, decided to abstain from the vote
on the draft Resolution at the plenary session of the State Great Khural.
Abstention, Head of the Democratic Party Faction Tsogtgerel
explained, constitutes a political decision of “no confidence in Prime
Minister.” Head of the Democratic Party Faction in the State Great Khural
stated, “First, instead of addressing citizens’ legitimate demands to disclose
his and his affiliates’ expenditures and lawful sources of income, Prime
Minister Oyun-Erdene chose to seek a Motion of Confidence from Parliament, an
act the Democratic Party Faction sees as an unprincipled move that misleads the
public. Second, the decision of the Mongolian People’s Party to expel the
Democratic Party from the Joint Government is a flagrant violation of both the
collective decision and the inter-party agreement established by the political
parties of the Joint Government.”
Following this, Members of the State Great Khural asked
questions and received responses from the Prime Minister regarding the issue
under discussion. Then, MPs delivered statements expressing their respective
positions on whether or not they would extend their confidence to Premier
Oyun-Erdene.
President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa attended the plenary
session and expressed his position. The President noted that the Presidency has
always respected the operations of the State Great Khural and consistently
supported the Government in all aspects. Reaffirming that the rule of law — not
the rule of man — must prevail in Mongolia, President Khurelsukh firmly
declared his opposition to any proposal to adopt a presidential system. The
President reiterated strong commitment to parliamentary democracy, recalling
his active involvement in the 2019 Amendments to the Constitution of Mongolia,
during which the President relinquished several presidential powers and
transferred the Anti-Corruption Agency of Mongolia to the executive branch of
the State, and handed the power to appoint its judges to the Judicial General
Council of Mongolia. The Head of State of Mongolia stated that no further
constitutional amendments would be made during his term, and he would not seek
re-election as the President of Mongolia. President Khurelsukh reminded of his
initiative to establish the Sovereign Wealth Fund and enshrine it in the
Constitution of Mongolia and stressed the firm stance that Mongolia’s natural
resources must be allocated equally among the citizens of Mongolia, advising
the State Great Khural and Government to honor citizens' call for justice,
demonstrating peacefully at Sukhbaatar Square.
After the President’s address, Members of Parliament resumed
their statements. Once all MPs had expressed their views, Chairman of the
Standing Committee on State Institutions of the State Great Khural Bat-Erdene
Jadamba proposed that the vote of Confidence be conducted by secret ballot. Of
the Members of Parliament present, 77 Members, or 65.3 percent, supported this
proposal. In the secret ballot, 82 Members voted, of which 44 (53.6 percent)
voted in favor of the draft Resolution of the Parliamentary Motion of
Confidence in the Prime Minister, while 38 Members (46.4 percent) opposed the
Motion.
Chairman of the State Great Khural Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve
announced that within the confines of the Law on Parliamentary Procedure, a
majority of all Members of Parliament — meaning at least 64 votes — was
required for the Prime Minister to retain the Parliament's confidence. As the
required threshold was not met, the draft Resolution failed to pass, and a
Resolution on the Resignation of Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene was
deemed approved. This Resolution instructs Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene to continue
performing his duties until a new Prime Minister is appointed, reported the
Department of Media of the State Great Khural of Mongolia.