Mongolia’s Prime Minister Ousted After Anti-Corruption Protests

Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai resigned Tuesday after losing a vote of no-confidence amid an anti-corruption investigation and weeks of mass protests triggered by social media posts displaying his son’s lavish lifestyle, the BBC reported. 

On Tuesday, only 44 of the 88 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the embattled leader, while 38 voted against him. The prime minister needed the support of at least 64 of parliament’s 126 members to survive the motion.  

Now, his successor must be named within 30 days. 

His ouster follows weeks of demonstrations calling for his resignation amid questions over his family’s affluent lifestyle after photos of Oyun-Erdene’s son and his girlfriend flaunting Dior bags and lavish vacations were shared on social media. 

Oyun-Erdene has rejected the corruption allegations as political.  

Ahead of the vote, he blamed “major, visible and hidden interests” for waging an “organized campaign” to bring down the government. He also warned of potential political instability and economic chaos if he was removed. 

Corruption allegations leveled at politicians are not new in the country, with many saying that the political elite has long siphoned off profits from a years-long coal mining boom, Al Jazeera explained.  

Still, according to Transparency International, corruption in the country has worsened since Oyun-Erdene took office in 2021. 

Analysts said that grievances over the economy and the rising cost of living also played a role in fueling the protests. However, they expressed skepticism that his successor would bring any meaningful change or tackle corruption.