Mongolia Passes New Election Law
The State Great Khural, Mongolia's parliament, passed a measure Thursday to revise the country's election system.
Under the new law, 28 of the parliament's 76 lawmakers will be elected using a proportional system, or vote for political parties, while the remaining 48 will be individual candidates nominated by their parties.
The previous election system was majoritarian and elected individual candidates.
"After three years, we finally revised the election law. Passing of this law was not an easy task for the parliament. The election law revisions are very significant. Now the new law needs to be promoted among the public," said Damdin Demberel, the parliament speaker
Revision of the current law previously stalled in parliament as the parties disagreed on proposed changes. Most minority parties pushed for a proportional system where voters would vote for a party rather than for candidates.
In order to gain a seat in the parliament, a political party must get five percent of the total national vote.
Sanjaa Bayar, the former prime minister and chairman of Mongolian People's Party, proposed the proportional electoral system in 2007. However, the proposal was blocked by the Mongolian Democratic Party then headed by President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.
The 2008 parliamentary election results were disputed by the Mongolian Democratic Party and the disagreement led to post-election riots.
Both parties began to work intensively on the revision of the election law after 2008.
Parliamentary elections are held every four years. The next is scheduled for June.
Under the new law, 28 of the parliament's 76 lawmakers will be elected using a proportional system, or vote for political parties, while the remaining 48 will be individual candidates nominated by their parties.
The previous election system was majoritarian and elected individual candidates.
"After three years, we finally revised the election law. Passing of this law was not an easy task for the parliament. The election law revisions are very significant. Now the new law needs to be promoted among the public," said Damdin Demberel, the parliament speaker
Revision of the current law previously stalled in parliament as the parties disagreed on proposed changes. Most minority parties pushed for a proportional system where voters would vote for a party rather than for candidates.
In order to gain a seat in the parliament, a political party must get five percent of the total national vote.
Sanjaa Bayar, the former prime minister and chairman of Mongolian People's Party, proposed the proportional electoral system in 2007. However, the proposal was blocked by the Mongolian Democratic Party then headed by President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.
The 2008 parliamentary election results were disputed by the Mongolian Democratic Party and the disagreement led to post-election riots.
Both parties began to work intensively on the revision of the election law after 2008.
Parliamentary elections are held every four years. The next is scheduled for June.
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