Mongolia PM resigns amid protests over his son’s lavish lifestyle

Mongol Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned after losing a vote with confidence in Parliament.

The vote followed the days of mass demonstrations concerning allegations of corruption – fueled by publications on social networks on the sumptuous birthday party of his son and the commitment.

Oyun-Erdene, who took office in 2021, will remain as an interim PM until a successor is appointed within 30 days.

“It was an honor to serve my country and people in times of difficulty, including pandemics, wars and prices,” he said after the vote.

He had to withdraw when he did not go out a majority, 64 of the 126 -seat parliament. Some 82 legislators participated in the secret ballot, 44 of which voted for Oyun-Erdene, while 38 voted against him.

Hundreds of demonstrators, many of whom have been down the streets for two weeks before the vote, demanding the resignation of Oyun-Erdene.

In particular, they pointed out that his family – in particular the sumptuous lifestyle of his son – questioning the source of their wealth.

The Mongols broadcast on social networks an extravagant marriage proposal by the son of Oyun-Erdene, as well as expensive fashion items.

Oyun-Erdene rejected allegations of corruption, accusing criticism of launching a defamation campaign against him.

According to Transparency International, a watchdog, Mongolia has seen corruption worse since Oyun-Erdene came to power. Last year, it was ranked 114th out of 180 countries in terms of government transparency.

A former communist state Sanwich between Russia and China, Mongolia has been going to democracy since the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

Corruption is a persistent problem. Last year, American prosecutors sought to lose Former Mongol PM Sukhbaatar Batbold’s two New York apartments that he would have bought using stolen mining funds.

Batbold, which served from 2012 to 2015, denied the reprehensible acts.

In recent years, Mongolia has sought to establish closer ties with the West, counting the United States and European countries as part of its “third neighbor” foreign policy.