Mongolia’s Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has resigned after losing a confidence vote in parliament, marking the end of his tenure amid widespread protests and corruption allegations.

The secret ballot saw 82 lawmakers participate, with 44 supporting Oyun-Erdene, while 38 voted against him, falling short of the required majority of 64 out of 126 seats. 

Until a successor is appointed within 30 days, he will continue to serve as caretaker prime minister.

His resignation follows two weeks of mass protests, primarily led by young demonstrators angered by allegations of extravagant spending by his family, especially his son’s lavish celebrations. 

Social media circulated images of high-end fashion purchases and an extravagant wedding proposal, sparking public demands for accountability.

Despite denying the allegations and calling them a smear campaign, Oyun-Erdene failed to regain political support.

According to Transparency International, Mongolia has witnessed a decline in government transparency since Oyun-Erdene took office in 2021, ranking 114th out of 180 countries last year.

Corruption scandals have plagued Mongolia’s leadership in the past. Former Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold faced investigations by US prosecutors over alleged misuse of mining funds to purchase luxury properties in New York, although he denied wrongdoing.

As Mongolia navigates its transition from communist rule, political tensions persist. The nation has increasingly sought stronger ties with Western allies, including the United States and European nations, as part of its "third neighbor" foreign policy.

Source: BBC

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