Parliamentary elections in Mongolia may have resulted in the previously dominant (72 of 76 seats) Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party — the former Communist Party — losing power to Motherland Democratic Coalition. The MDC took 36 seats — the same as the MPRP — with three seats going to independents (and another going to a minor party). You need 39 seats to form a government, and the MDC thinks it has the allies to do it. The problem is, the MPRP is crying foul, and there will apparently be re-votes in two regions.
The photo, BTW, is from AP, and in case you were wondering:
A Mongolian man waves a banner that reads: ‘Our Election Was Honest!’ at a protest in Ulan Bator, Mongolia Tuesday June 29, 2004.
OK, dude, if you say so.
Prime Minister Nambariin Enkhbayar on the results:
It is unknown why so many voters turned to another party.
Some voters offered a couple of guesses:
“I voted for the Democrats because I wanted to see a balance of power,” said businessman Tsereniin Tsend, 29. “It’s time for a change. I don’t believe in having one dominant party in government.”
…
Luvsandendev Sumati, director of the Sant Maral Foundation, an independent polling group, said many people voted for the opposition on Sunday as a protest against the ruling party.
“The campaign was run as if there was only one party in this country, and apparently it recalled a lot of bad memories of the people. It really reminded people of communism,” Sumati said.
Any more punditry?
The People’s Revolutionary Party also appeared to have alienated some with an advertising campaign that saturated the airwaves and blanketed Ulan Bator, the capital, with campaign billboards.
“They were too proud of themselves. We didn’t need to see them on TV all day and night,” said Gendeniin Undrakh, a waitress who voted for the Democrats.
“I know that right now, the MPRP is scheming to steal a seat or two so they can have the advantage,” said Tsend, the businessman.
This should put voters in developed democracies to shame:
About half of Mongolia’s 2.5 million people were eligible to vote for members of the Great Hural, whose name comes from gatherings of leaders of Mongol tribes that once dominated Central Asia.
Voters, many dressed in traditional ankle-length robes, arrived at polling centers by pony, foot and motorbike. Some nomadic herders traveled up to 15 miles to cast ballots in tents in the Gobi Desert or the grassy steppe.
The last figure I saw on voter turnout was 80 percent. Amazing. The pic, BTW, is a Mongolian polling station, taken from this BBC piece. Here’s another one with an interesting pic from the Mongolian campaign scene.
4 Comments
Marmot, can you drop me an email? I have a Mongolia issue that’s cropped up IRL. Thanks!
Do yurts usually have doors like that one?
Michael, the ones I saw in Kyrgyzstan did.
Anyway, in case anyone is following this, the opposition seized state TV briefly to air their side.
As an American it always seems sad that we take our right to vote so lightly. There are people literally dying to do what we so easily dismiss because it is too much trouble to go to the local polling station - and I know of none that are anywhere near 15 miles away.
PING:
TITLE: Asia by Blog
BLOG NAME: Simon World
It’s has been a busy few days in Asia’s blogosphere: Hong Kong has its big democracy march today. HK reporter has some thoughts on HK and democracy and Richard has excerpts from a WaPo editorial on the protest. He also notes, as expected, that China is…
PING:
TITLE: Asia by Blog
BLOG NAME: Simon World
It’s has been a busy few days in Asia’s blogosphere: Hong Kong has its big democracy march today. HK reporter has some thoughts on HK and democracy and Richard has excerpts from a WaPo editorial on the protest. He also notes, as expected, that China is…
PING:
TITLE: What if they held an election and everybody came?
BLOG NAME: Rocket Jones
Mongolia recently held elections and the resident Communist Party suffered huge losses, to the point that they may be out of power. But the truly remarkable part is that their election had an 80% voter turnout! Thanks to The Marmot…