San Francisco Frontiers - Mongolia PM resigns after anti-corruption protests

The landlocked democracy in northern Asia has battled deep-seated corruption for decades, with many arguing that wealthy elites are hoarding the profits of a years-long coal mining boom at the expense of the general population.

Frustrations have flared since last month as public suspicions over the supposedly lavish lifestyles of the prime minister's family have fuelled persistent demonstrations in the capital Ulaanbaatar.

Oyun-Erdene announced his resignation on Tuesday after losing a confidence vote among lawmakers, according to a parliamentary statement.

"It was an honour to serve my country and people in times of difficulties, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs," he said after the result of the secret ballot was announced to parliament.

He will remain as caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed within 30 days.

Hundreds of young people had converged on the square outside the parliament building on Monday, marching with white placards and chanting: "Resignation is easy."

Several protesters said they had come to voice dismay at what they described as deeply embedded corruption and social injustice.

But Julian Dierkes, a Mongolia expert at Germany's University of Mannheim, said he "(didn't) expect any successor to adopt substantially different policies" from Oyun-Erdene, including on corruption.

His ouster "may mean the resurgence of factional politics in his party" after years of comparative stability at the top of Mongolian politics, Dierkes told AFP.

- Secret ballot -

Oyun-Erdene has denied the corruption allegations, and in an address to parliament before the vote, blamed "major, visible and hidden interests" for waging an "organised campaign" to bring down the government.

He had also warned of political instability and economic chaos if forced out of power.

But it was not enough as only 44 lawmakers voted to retain confidence in him, with 38 against.

That did not reach the 64-vote threshold required from the 126-seat parliament, prompting Oyun-Erdene to stand down.

The move pushed the country's fractious political scene into further uncertainty.

Mongolia had 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).

But the MPP evicted the second-largest member, the Democratic Party (DP), from the coalition last month after some younger DP lawmakers backed calls for Oyun-Erdene's resignation.

DP lawmakers walked out of the parliamentary chamber during the confidence ballot.

- 'Time for change' -

Further demonstrations were expected in central Ulaanbaatar on Tuesday, according to AFP reporters in the city.

Since Oyun-Erdene took power in 2021, Mongolia's ranking in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index has dropped.

Concerns over the economy and rising living costs have also stoked the unrest.

Some counter-protesters -- overwhelmingly older than their pro-opposition counterparts -- have also turned out to support Oyun-Erdene in recent weeks.

Speaking on Monday, protest organiser Ulamsaikhan Otgon, 24, said the demonstrations "have showcased throughout that young people are very sensitive to unfairness" in Mongolian society.

Yroolt, a 30-year-old content creator who declined to share his surname for privacy reasons, said young people "want a different life, a different society".

"We all know injustice is deeply embedded in our society but it's time for change," he told AFP.

M.Hill--SFF