Politics
Legal Challenges Mount Over PM Ouster as Parliament Accused of Procedural Breaches
Published: 2025-10-18
Two Mongolian outlets report that lawmakers, constitutional experts, and former officials allege the Prime Minister’s dismissal was effected through unconstitutional procedure. Critics say the Thursday plenary lacked quorum and therefore could not be “continued” on Friday without newly establishing attendance; they also argue the vote improperly used a Standing Committee’s wording, contrary to 2019 constitutional amendments that limit the committee’s role to presenting recommendations. Observers expect petitions to the Constitutional Court, which could void the resolution if violations are confirmed. The episode raises risks of institutional instability and questions about parliamentary legitimacy and future government formation.
“If Parliament votes using the Standing Committee’s formulation and proceeds to dismiss the Prime Minister and appoint a new one, it could amount to the unlawful seizure of state power.” - Academician S. Narangerel (news.mn, itoim.mn)
“Regardless of whose side benefits, we must strictly follow the Constitution to prevent a constitutional crisis.” - N. Jantsan, former head of the Constitutional Court (news.mn, itoim.mn)
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High Court Rejects Democratic Party Charter Over Legal Compliance Issues
Published: 2025-10-18
Mongolia’s Supreme Court declined to register the Democratic Party’s revised charter and party program, citing several provisions that do not meet legal requirements. The decision follows the party’s August 31 congress, where delegates approved updates to the platform, internal rules, and party leadership matters. While the court did not publicly specify which clauses were noncompliant, the refusal delays formal recognition of the reforms and could prolong internal disputes and uncertainty over party governance ahead of future electoral cycles. The same judicial session reassigned former Judicial General Council member B. Undrakh back to the Civil Chamber and agreed to submit comments on pending legislation, including amendments to criminal procedure and a draft law on adjudicating family matters. No official statements from party leaders or the court spokesperson were quoted in the reporting.
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Parliament Ousts Speaker and Prime Minister as Teachers Launch Nationwide Strike
Published: 2025-10-18
Mongolia entered a rare leadership shake-up as parliament removed both the Prime Minister and the Speaker in one day—unprecedented in the 35 years of democratic rule. MPs voted to accept a procedural formula that resulted in Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar’s cabinet resigning, while 89.5% supported dismissing Speaker D. Amarbayasgalan. A deputy speaker will act until a new Speaker is chosen; a new prime minister must be nominated within 30 days. The turmoil coincides with escalating labor unrest: teachers began an open-ended nationwide strike after months of demands for a 50% pay rise stalled, affecting hundreds of schools and kindergartens. Health-sector unions renewed pay and workload demands, citing shortages of essential medical supplies. In a televised address, Zandanshatar criticized parliamentary tactics and urged focus on winter preparedness.
“I became Prime Minister to fight the theft of national wealth and raise salaries and pensions… Do your work, winter is coming—people need power, heat, fuel.” - Prime Minister G. Zandanshatar (gogo.mn)
“I have been slandered and pressured with false claims of serious crimes… There is no crime I have committed.” - D. Amarbayasgalan, dismissed Speaker of Parliament (gogo.mn)
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Parliament Advances 2026 Budget Packages to Third Reading, Backs 2026 Monetary Policy Guidelines
Published: 2025-10-18
Parliament continued second readings on amendments to the Medium-Term Budget Framework (2026) and projections (2027–2028), resolving key differences in a joint Budget–Economic committee vote before sending the bill to committees for third-reading preparation. Lawmakers also progressed second readings of the 2026 state budget, National Wealth Fund, Social Insurance Fund, and Health Insurance Fund bills; 72 of 114 members present found them compliant with fiscal rules, enabling third-reading drafting. The plenary approved the 2026 monetary policy guidelines with 63.2% support after presentations by the Bank of Mongolia and committee rapporteurs. Budget committees held six public consultations on sector allocations and revenue plans, drawing broad stakeholder input. Debate on accompanying bills—including VAT changes, PPP amendments, sovereign issuance limits, and measures to utilize untapped Tavan Tolgoi assets—was paused after a three-day recess request by the Democratic Party caucus.
“We request a three-day recess on the package submitted alongside the 2026 budget bill.” - Kh. Temuujin, DP caucus deputy leader (urug.mn)
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Published: 2025-10-18
Mongolia’s next government must be formed under constitutional and parliamentary rules, with a hard deadline approaching for appointing a Prime Minister. If the State Great Khural (Parliament) fails to confirm a PM within 30 days—by November 17—the President is empowered to dissolve Parliament. The Constitution assigns Parliament exclusive powers to set state policy, establish and alter government structures, and appoint or dismiss the Prime Minister and cabinet. Where no single party holds a majority, the President must, within five days, submit a PM nominee from the largest party or a coalition that forms a majority. Parliamentary procedure requires the Standing Committee on State Structure to review the nomination within three working days, followed by an open floor vote; a nominee succeeds with a majority of members present. Rejection triggers a new nomination within five days under the same process.
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Economy
Inflation Reaches 9% in September as Services and Food Lead Price Gains
Published: 2025-10-18
Consumer prices rose 9% year on year in September 2025 and 2% from August, according to the National Statistics Office. Services climbed 15% and goods 7% versus a year earlier, with food up 10.4% and non-food items 8.5%. Inflation was driven mainly by food, beverages and water (contributing 2.8 percentage points) and housing, utilities and fuel (1.9 percentage points). On public finances, preliminary data for January–September show total revenue and grants at MNT 22.2 trillion, down MNT 611.3 billion year on year. Expenditure and net lending reached MNT 22.1 trillion, resulting in a structural deficit of MNT 1.3 trillion. Tax revenue fell to MNT 19.0 trillion, led by declines in income tax (−MNT 609 billion) and mineral royalty payments (−MNT 1.3 trillion), partly offset by higher social insurance (+MNT 645.1 billion), property tax (+MNT 120.1 billion), VAT (+MNT 77.3 billion), and external operations income (+MNT 76.8 billion).
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Social Insurance Fund Revenue Rises by ₮666.4 Billion in First Nine Months of 2025
Published: 2025-10-18
Mongolia’s Social Insurance Fund collected ₮4.85 trillion in revenue during January–September 2025, up ₮666.4 billion year over year, according to the National Statistics Office. Expenditures reached ₮4.38 trillion, an increase of ₮620 billion from the same period in 2024. The pension insurance fund disbursed ₮4.02 trillion to 520,400 recipients—12,600 more beneficiaries and ₮541.5 billion more in payouts than last year—of whom 79.6% are old-age pensioners, 12.1% persons with disabilities, 4% survivors, and 4.3% military retirees. The benefits insurance fund paid ₮359.9 billion to 145,900 people, with both recipient numbers and amounts higher year on year. Maternity-related benefits totaled ₮164.5 billion for 39,700 recipients. Separately, social welfare services reached 2.4 million people with ₮1.83 trillion, covering fewer beneficiaries than 2024 but at a higher total amount.
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Infrastructure
Booroljuut Power Plant Adds Second 150 MW Unit, Delivering 300 MW to Central Grid Ahead of Schedule
Published: 2025-10-18
The Booroljuut coal-fired power plant brought its second 150 MW unit online at 08:00 on October 18, adding up to 300 MW to Mongolia’s central power system ahead of schedule. The first 150 MW unit entered service in December 2024. City authorities previously raised MNT 500 billion on the domestic bond market—allocating MNT 300 billion to the project—marking a notable use of local capital markets for infrastructure. At full two-unit capacity, the plant is expected to generate up to 2.4 billion kWh annually, roughly equivalent to the needs of 963,000 households. The additional baseload is intended to reduce winter shortages and enhance grid stability as demand peaks in Ulaanbaatar and the central region. Construction of the third and fourth units is ongoing, indicating further capacity expansion in the pipeline.
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Society
Mother of 16-Year-Old Victim Seeks Accountability as Double-Murder Case Returned to Prosecutors
Published: 2025-10-18
A high-profile case involving the brutal killing of a 32-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl in June 2024 has been sent back to prosecutors after a preliminary hearing on September 17 found the case file incomplete at the Bayangol, Khan-Uul, and Songinokhairkhan district criminal courts. The mother of the 16-year-old victim said she formally requested on October 8 to recuse investigators G. Yanjindulam and G. Bayasgalan from case No. 2402, receiving a written notice on October 16 that materials had already been transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office and her request would not be processed. She filed a renewed petition on October 9 with the Capital City Prosecutor. She is also demanding disciplinary action against officers and two prosecutors overseeing the case, urging justice officials to review a 15-minute case video.
“I sincerely ask that they view my daughter’s case truthfully and objectively.” - Mother of the 16-year-old victim (urug.mn)
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Environment
Protected Bogd Khan Mountain Begins Removing Noncompliant Fences to Protect Wildlife
Published: 2025-10-18
Bogd Khan Mountain’s protection administration has started enforcing wildlife-friendly fence standard UCS0304B:2025, notifying roughly 580 land users in the buffer zone to comply. Authorities have begun dismantling 12,452 meters of fencing across 34 locations that fail to meet the standard. A recent study linked substandard fencing around Ulaanbaatar to the deaths of 31 animals due to entanglement or impalement, underscoring ecological impacts around the capital’s key protected area. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change previously directed enforcement during a September site visit, accelerating compliance efforts. The move signals stepped-up governance in protected areas, with potential implications for landholders’ costs and timelines as they retrofit or remove barriers, and may shape future permitting near conservation zones by prioritizing wildlife corridors and standardized infrastructure.
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