Mongolian legislative election, 1990
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Mongolia
in 1990. The State Great Khural was elected on 22 June 1990, with a second round on 29 June, at which time the Baga Khural, the new second chamber, was also elected.
, a group formed on December 10 of that year by intellectuals under the influence of similar movements in Eastern Europe
. Jambyn Batmönkh promised reform to placate the growing demonstrations and met with the MDU leaders, although Dumaagiin Sodnom
and other leading Politburo
members felt that a gradual five year plan for reforms could be undertaken. Demonstrations continued however, with Batmönkh announcing his resignation on March 4, followed by the rest of the Politburo eight days later. Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat became chairman of the Hural with Sharavyn Gungaadorj
appointed as Prime Minister, although it was agreed that the Hural would meet again in May to discuss constitutional change, making these appointments temporary.
The demonstrations continued, however, (largely as a consequence of the lack of funding and media access for the newly formed opposition parties in contrast to the MPRP) and the army was used against the demonstrators in April. Meetings were held with the opposition on April 30 and free elections to the Hural were agreed on May 14.
, the Mongolian National Progress Party and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party
. However the MPRP soon took the lead by promising to cancel some debts, lower the cost of heating and provide higher wages for the poor and students. They combined this with the removal of their links to the security forces and army in order to prevent a threatened opposition boycott
.
Primary elections were held on July 25 with 2,400 candidates put forward to chase 799 available full candidatures for the Great Hural's 430 seats. Ultimately around 100 opposition candidates advanced, with the system criticized for favouring rural areas where the MPRP were strongest.
whilst Dashiin Byambasüren
was appointed as Prime Minister
.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
in 1990. The State Great Khural was elected on 22 June 1990, with a second round on 29 June, at which time the Baga Khural, the new second chamber, was also elected.
Background
In 1989 the Mongolian People's Republic witnessed a series of demonstrations against the government by the coalition group the Mongolian Democratic UnionMongolian Democratic Union
The Democratic Union Coalition was a coalition of political parties in Mongolia. Its primary constituents were the National Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, and its core policies were the implementation of political and economic reforms in the post-communist period.In the 1996...
, a group formed on December 10 of that year by intellectuals under the influence of similar movements in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. Jambyn Batmönkh promised reform to placate the growing demonstrations and met with the MDU leaders, although Dumaagiin Sodnom
Dumaagiin Sodnom
Dumaagiin Sodnom is a Mongolian political figure who served as Mongolia's 14th Prime Minister from 1984 to 1990.Sodnom was born in the Örgön District of Dornogovi Province on 14 July 1933. He first attended school in the Bayanmönkh district of Khentii Province and then went on to study at the...
and other leading Politburo
Politburo
Politburo , literally "Political Bureau [of the Central Committee]," is the executive committee for a number of communist political parties.-Marxist-Leninist states:...
members felt that a gradual five year plan for reforms could be undertaken. Demonstrations continued however, with Batmönkh announcing his resignation on March 4, followed by the rest of the Politburo eight days later. Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat became chairman of the Hural with Sharavyn Gungaadorj
Sharavyn Gungaadorj
Sharavyn Gungaadorj is a Mongolian politician and was the 15th Prime Minister of Mongolia from March 21 to September 11 in 1990.- Life :...
appointed as Prime Minister, although it was agreed that the Hural would meet again in May to discuss constitutional change, making these appointments temporary.
The demonstrations continued, however, (largely as a consequence of the lack of funding and media access for the newly formed opposition parties in contrast to the MPRP) and the army was used against the demonstrators in April. Meetings were held with the opposition on April 30 and free elections to the Hural were agreed on May 14.
Election campaign
The MPRP registered as a political party on May 24 and others followed suit, including the Mongolian Democratic Party, the Mongolian Green PartyMongolian Green Party
The Mongolian Green Party was founded in 1990 when Mongolia became a democracy, becoming the first Green party founded in Asia...
, the Mongolian National Progress Party and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party
Mongolian Social Democratic Party
The Mongolian Social Democratic Party was a political party in Mongolia. It was founded in 1990 by Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar. Other prominent members included A.Ganbaatar, Losolyn Byambajargal and Radnaasumbereliyn Gonchigdorj. A considerable number of members came from the mathematics and physics...
. However the MPRP soon took the lead by promising to cancel some debts, lower the cost of heating and provide higher wages for the poor and students. They combined this with the removal of their links to the security forces and army in order to prevent a threatened opposition boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
.
Primary elections were held on July 25 with 2,400 candidates put forward to chase 799 available full candidatures for the Great Hural's 430 seats. Ultimately around 100 opposition candidates advanced, with the system criticized for favouring rural areas where the MPRP were strongest.
Results
The MPRP took 60% of the vote but won 358 seats (86%), with the opposition only managing 14% of the seats despite winning 40% of the vote. Due to election irregularities, 28 seats were held up. As a consequence of the results, Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat was confirmed as PresidentPresident of Mongolia
The President of Mongolia is the head of state of Mongolia. The Constitution of Mongolia implements a parliamentary system, so while much of the President's role is ceremonial, he or she does wield significant political power.-Election:...
whilst Dashiin Byambasüren
Dashiin Byambasüren
Dashiin Byambasüren is a former Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party politician who was Prime Minister of Mongolia from 11 September 1990 - 21 July 1992, as the first one to be appointed by a democratically elected parliament. He comes from a Buryat background...
was appointed as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Mongolia
The Prime Minister of Mongolia is the highest member of the Mongolian government's executive arm, and heads the Mongolian cabinet. The Prime Minister is appointed by Parliament, and can be removed by a vote of no confidence.-Powers:...
.
State Grand Khural
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party | 358 | |||
| Mongolian Democratic Party | 17 | New | ||
| Mongolian National Progressive Party | 6 | New | ||
| Mongolian Social Democratic Party Mongolian Social Democratic Party The Mongolian Social Democratic Party was a political party in Mongolia. It was founded in 1990 by Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar. Other prominent members included A.Ganbaatar, Losolyn Byambajargal and Radnaasumbereliyn Gonchigdorj. A considerable number of members came from the mathematics and physics... |
4 | New | ||
| Mongolian Green Party Mongolian Green Party The Mongolian Green Party was founded in 1990 when Mongolia became a democracy, becoming the first Green party founded in Asia... |
0 | New | ||
| Free Labour Party | 0 | New | ||
| Independents | 38 | New | ||
| Vacant seats | 7 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | ||||
| Total | 27,817 | 100 | 430 | +60 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | ||||
Baga Khural
| Party | Votes | % | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party | 598,984 | 61.1 | 31 |
| Mongolian Democratic Party | 236,087 | 24.1 | 13 |
| Mongolian National Progressive Party | 57,691 | 5.9 | 3 |
| Mongolian Social Democratic Party Mongolian Social Democratic Party The Mongolian Social Democratic Party was a political party in Mongolia. It was founded in 1990 by Bat-Erdeniin Batbayar. Other prominent members included A.Ganbaatar, Losolyn Byambajargal and Radnaasumbereliyn Gonchigdorj. A considerable number of members came from the mathematics and physics... |
53,545 | 5.5 | 3 |
| Mongolian Green Party Mongolian Green Party The Mongolian Green Party was founded in 1990 when Mongolia became a democracy, becoming the first Green party founded in Asia... |
12,044 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Free Labour Party | 11,823 | 1.2 | 0 |
| Invalid/blank votes | |||
| Total | 27,817 | 100 | 50 |
| Source: Nohlen et al | |||