Mongolia PM faces likely confidence vote amid anti-corruption protests
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The landlocked democracy in northern Asia has struggled with corruption for decades, and many in the country say a wealthy elite is hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom at the expense of the general population.
Those tensions resurfaced last month after reports of allegedly lavish spending by the son of Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene sparked protests in the capital Ulaanbaatar.
Oyun-Erdene is due to address the State Great Khural the Mongolian parliament on Monday ahead of an expected "confidence vote" to decide whether the government he heads should continue, according to the prime minister's office.
It would mark the first time a Mongolian prime minister has submitted a confidence motion in their own government and raises the spectre of Oyun-Erdene's resignation if he loses.
Hundreds of young protesters crowded onto the square outside the parliament building on Monday morning, marching with white placards and chanting: "It is easy to resign."
Organiser Ulamsaikhan Otgon, 24, said the weeks of demonstrations "have showcased throughout that young people are very sensitive to unfairness" in society.
Yroolt, a 30-year-old content creator, said it was the second time he had attended.
"The reason I came is because I want a different life, a different society," he told an AFP reporter, declining to share his last name out of privacy concerns.
"We all know injustice is deeply embedded in our society but it's time for change."
Mongolia has been ruled by a three-way coalition government since elections last year resulted in a significantly reduced majority for Oyun-Erdene's Mongolian People's Party (MPP).
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
But the MPP evicted the second-largest group, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition agreement last month after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Oyun-Erdene's resignation.
The move pushed the country's fractious political scene into further uncertainty.
Since Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, Mongolia has plummeted in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
The allegations against Oyun-Erdene's family have hit a nerve at a time when many in the country are also worried about their economic prospects and rising living costs.
The prime minister's office has denied allegations of impropriety, describing them as a "smear", and warned of economic chaos if his government collapses.
Some counter-protesters, overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts, also turned out to support the prime minister last month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fibre2Fashion
5 days ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan sign MoU on cooperation in wool processing
During the recent state visit of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to Kyrgyzstan, a number of bilateral agreements were signed that included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in wool processing. All the agreements are aimed at increasing joint cooperation. Mongolian Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Enkhbayar Jadamba and Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev signed the MoU on cooperation in wool processing. During the recent state visit of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to Kyrgyzstan, a number of bilateral agreements were signed that included an MoU on cooperation in wool processing. Both sides will implement joint projects in wool product supply, processing and promotion, while exchanging information and fostering business relations for mutual benefit. Within the framework of the 'White Gold' National Movement of Mongolia, Mongolian wool would be exported to Kyrgyzstan. Both sides will implement joint projects in wool product supply, processing and promotion, while exchanging information and fostering business relations for mutual benefit, according to Kyrgyz media outlets. Launched last year, the White Gold National Campaign is aimed at revitalising the light industry, stimulating the economic circulation of raw materials of animal origin, creating new jobs in the sector, raising production of value-added goods, boosting herders' incomes and improving their livelihoods. An agreement on scientific cooperation between the Kyrgyz National Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences of Mongolia was also signed. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Ahead of polls, BMC aligns ward boundaries with DP
Mumbai: As the BMC's election and assessment departments undertake the ward formation process ahead of municipal polls, officials are closely examining the Development Plan (DP) 2034 boundaries. Since the DP was published only after the 2017 civic polls, this is the first time the ward demarcation exercise aligns with the newly frozen boundaries. Officials are cross-checking for consistency between the DP and existing ward limits. For instance, near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) area, a pocket of voters previously under R-North ward were listed as voting in P-North. Now, under the DP, this area falls squarely within P-North. "Therefore, these consistencies will be maintained. This would not impact the voters. DP is also a formal plan and therefore it is being looked at carefully," said an official. The DP was formally sanctioned via a state govt gazette on May 8, 2018— after the last BMC elections—making this the first poll where DP boundaries are part of the delimitation review. BMC DP is a long-term blueprint to guide the planned growth and infrastructure development of Mumbai. It outlines how land across the city should be used—whether for residential, commercial, industrial or recreational purposes—and lays down zoning norms accordingly. The plan also maps out where roads, public transport systems, schools, hospitals, open spaces and utilities like water supply and sewage networks will be located. While the DP is not the same as electoral or administrative ward maps, its land use boundaries sometimes intersect with or influence ward boundaries—especially during ward formation exercises, as seen now. The state urban development department has already directed civic chiefs to finalise new draft ward boundaries. BMC polls may be held anytime from Nov. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
50,000 suggestions, objections pour in for PCMC's draft DP
Even as the process of receiving suggestions and objections to the draft Development Plan of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation ended on Monday, it has emerged that there is 'hope' for aggrieved citizens as the civic administration reserves the right to accept or reject their views. By July 14, around 50,000 suggestions and objections were collectively received by the Town Planning Department and the Development Plan Unit of the state government. 'We have received 49,570 suggestions and objections directly from citizens. We feel there are 400-500 suggestions and objections which have come online. So the figure could go up well beyond 50,000,' said a civic official. 'Most of the 50,000 submissions include objections by the citizens, activists and politicians to the reservations made by the DP Unit of the state government,' he added. Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh said, 'Now that the suggestions and objections have been received, the state government will appoint a planning committee through the director of town planning. The objections and suggestions will be placed before the Planning Committee….The committee will take the final decision and intimate it to the citizens. The decisions are then placed before the general body of the civic administration. The general body then takes decision on the objections and changes suggested by the planning committee…' The municipal commissioner said the general body has the right to accept or reject the changes or decisions taken by the planning committee. 'The general body has the final powers…After the general body takes the decision, it will go for approval before the state government,' the PCMC chief said. Civic officials said currently, the general body is headed by the municipal commissioner. When asked about this, the PCMC chief said, 'GB will take the final decision…,' while refusing to comment further. Officials said if the hearing is completed by the planning committee before the ensuing civic elections or before the Model Code of Conduct for civic polls comes into effect, the PCMC will get the opportunity to take a call on the planning committee decisions. 'If the process is not completed before the civic elections, then the new general body, which will have elected corporators, will take the final call,' officials said. For last two months, citizens in Pimpri-Chinchwad have been protesting against the draft DP as it threatens to bring down their homes constructed years ago. The reservations in the draft DP have drawn severe criticism from political leaders, activists and citizens. The reservations made by the DP Unit drew flak even from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who said under no circumstances will a slaughterhouse come up near the temple town of Alandi. A reservation for this facility has been made in the PCMC's draft development plan. Several other reservations like the plan for a bus depot and other facilities near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue in Pimpri also drew criticism. Over 5,000 residents in Wakad, Thergaon and nearby areas have also protested the plan for a ring road which was to pass through their society premises. The 'wrong marking' of the floodline near the rivers also was debunked by activists. Seema Sawale, former chairperson of the PCMC's standing committee, who first raised the objections regarding the DP reservations for a slaughterhouse near Alandi, told The Indian Express, 'The draft DP is in favour of the rich and is against the poor and the middle-class. We hope the CM will scrap it and take action against those who made objectionable reservations.' The PCMC has been contending that it's role was limited to making suggestions and conveying the needs of the city to the DP unit. 'The municipal commissioner or the civic administration is not involved where individual reservations are concerned. That is the prerogative of the DP Unit. The municipal commissioner's responsbility is to ensure the needs of the city are properly reflected in the development plan and are conveyed to the DP Unit,' said a civic official. After the slaughterhouse reservation came to light, the PCMC had to clarify that it had suggested to the DP unit to make reservation for a slaughterhouse but not near Alandi. 'The decision for reserving the plot of land for slaughterhouse near Alandi was taken by the DP Unit itself apparently after their own surveys,' said a PCMC official. When asked whether the DP Unit had interacted with them before making reservations in the draft DP, Prasad Gaikwad, Deputy Director of Town Planning, said, 'We were not consulted neither informed about it. The DP Unit took the decisions after their own surveys…' On Tuesday, despite repeated calls, chief of the DP Unit Anupama Kulkarni did not respond. Earlier, she had said the reservations in the draft DP were not final. 'There is a long process involved in preparing the final DP,' she had said.
