2016 Mongolian parliamentary election explained

Country:Mongolia
Previous Election:2012
Next Election:2020
Election Date:29 June 2016
Seats For Election:All 76 seats in the State Great Khural
Majority Seats:39
Party1:Mongolian People's Party
Leader1:Miyeegombyn Enkhbold
Percentage1:45.12
Seats1:65
Last Election1:25
Party2:Democratic Party (Mongolia)
Percentage2:33.14
Seats2:9
Last Election2:31
Party3:Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (2010)
Leader3:Nambaryn Enkhbayar
Percentage3:8.00
Seats3:1
Last Election3:new
Party5:Independents
Leader5:
Percentage5:6.00
Seats5:1
Last Election5:3
Map:2016 Mongolian Legislative Election.png
Prime Minister
Before Election:Chimediin Saikhanbileg
Before Party:Democratic Party (Mongolia)
After Election:Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat
After Party:Mongolian People's Party

Parliamentary elections were held in Mongolia on 29 June 2016.[1] The governing Democratic Party lost to a landslide victory of the Mongolian People's Party, retaining only 9 of 76 seats in the Great Khural.[2] While they just lost under 2% of the popular vote, a new electoral law passed by the Democratic Party itself when in Government to promote two-party politics, together with a 14% rise of the MPP, ended up making them lose 25 of 34 seats. As a result, the MPP secured a supermajority with 65 of 76 seats.

Electoral system

In the 2012 elections the 76 members of the State Great Khural were elected by two methods; 48 are elected from single-member constituencies and 28 from a nationwide constituency by proportional representation. However, on 5 May 2016 the electoral law was amended to remove the proportional representation seats.[3] The changes were expected to marginalise smaller parties, and also removed the right of 150,000 Mongolians expatriates to vote, as they could not be registered in a specific constituency.[3]

The winning candidate had to receive at least 28% of the valid vote to be elected; if not, a by-election would be held. Voter turnout had to be at least 50% in a constituency for the result to be valid.[4]

Campaign

Twelve parties were approved to contest the elections. However, the Civil Will–Green Party, which won two seats in 2012 and was part of the government coalition, was barred from running due to irregularities in its paperwork.[3] The newly formed National Labour Party was also prevented from running, with its leader Surenkhuu Borgil planning on standing as an independent instead.[3]

A total of 498 candidates registered to contest the elections, with the Democratic Party and Mongolian People's Party being the only parties to contest all 76 seats.[5]

Results

The 239 votes cast for the MPRP candidate in constituency 11 (Gobi-Altai) and the 595 votes cast for an independent candidate in constituency 58 (Khan-Uul) were annulled.[6]

Notes and References

  1. http://mongolianembassy.us/about-mongolia/government-and-politics/#.VmVw99KLSM8 Government and politics
  2. News: Mongolian opposition wins landslide, voters fed up with hard times. Reuters. 27 August 2016. 30 June 2016. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817034324/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mongolia-election-idUKKCN0ZF28C. 17 August 2016.
  3. http://www.businessinsider.com/r-mongolias-new-election-rules-handicap-smaller-parties-clear-way-for-two-horse-race-2016-5?IR=T Mongolia's new election rules handicap smaller parties, clear way for two-horse race
  4. http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2219_B.htm Electoral system
  5. http://gec.gov.mn/en/index.php?singlepage=19&&page=blog GEC presented the credentials to 498 candidates for the State Great Hural election 2016
  6. http://gec.gov.mn/uploads/page/45c71743ecc4d57290c102d270fb078b.pdf State Great Khural 2016: General election results