News|PoliticsMongolia’s president vetoes effort to unseat PMPresident Ukhnaa Khurelsukh claims parliament’s vote to oust the PM is invalid because of ‘procedural flaws’.
On Mon, Oct 20, 2025, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolia vetoed a parliamentary resolution to dismiss Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar. This action has intensified the ongoing political crisis in the nation.
On Mon, Oct 20, 2025, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolia vetoed a parliamentary resolution to dismiss Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar. This action has intensified the ongoing political crisis in the nation.
The veto followed a parliamentary vote held on Fri, Oct 17, 2025, that aimed to remove Zandanshatar from office. The prime minister had faced criticism for amending the country's mineral policy, which was met with disapproval from various quarters.
According to President Khurelsukh’s office, the parliamentary session that attempted to dismiss Zandanshatar lacked a quorum, rendering the vote invalid. The president's statement, as reported by the state Montsame news agency, highlighted that these procedural shortcomings violated constitutional principles and undermined the rule of law.
Mongolia’s constitutional court is set to deliberate on the president’s veto.
On Mon, Oct 20, 2025, President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh of Mongolia vetoed a parliamentary resolution to dismiss Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar.
The situation surrounding Zandanshatar is a reflection of broader internal conflicts within the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). In a recent party leadership election, Zandanshatar was defeated by Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve, the parliamentary speaker, who later resigned due to corruption allegations.
The political unrest is part of a larger pattern of dissatisfaction in Mongolia, a country rich in resources but facing challenges such as corruption perception and economic instability. This broader discontent led to the ousting of Zandanshatar’s predecessor, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, in June after a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Prime Minister Zandanshatar had proposed changes to Mongolia's minerals policy, suggesting that exporters pay royalties based on domestic stock prices instead of international benchmarks. Critics argued that this policy shift could negatively impact the national budget.
Additionally, Zandanshatar faced criticism for appointing a justice minister without parliamentary notification, which was deemed unlawful by some members of parliament.
President Khurelsukh recently returned to Ulaanbaatar following a state visit to India, where agreements in sectors such as oil and gas were reached.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
