2021 Mongolian presidential election

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2021 Mongolian presidential election
Flag of Mongolia.svg
←  2017 9 June 20212027 →
Majority of the popular vote needed to prevent a run-off
Turnout59.29% (Decrease2.svg 1.38pp)
  Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg Dangaasurengiin Enkhbat, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg Sodnomzunduin Erdene, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg
Nominee Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh Dangaasürengiin Enkhbat Sodnomzunduin Erdene
Party MPP RPEC Democratic
Popular vote823,326246,96872,832
Percentage72.02%21.60%6.37%
2021 Mongolia Presidential Election (Provincial).svg
2021 Mongolia Presidential Election (Municipal).svg
President before election

Khaltmaagiin Battulga
Democratic

Elected President

Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
MPP

Presidential elections were held in Mongolia on 9 June 2021. [1] The result was a victory for former prime minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), who received 72% of the valid vote. [2] The elections were considered free and fair by OSCE. [3] However, there was controversy as several opposition candidates were disqualified and former president Khaltmaagiin Battulga was barred from running for a second term. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Background

2020 parliamentary election

In the 2020 parliamentary election, Mongolian People's Party (MPP) won a landslide victory, winning a supermajority of 62 seats in the State Great Khural. The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP) won 11 seats, while the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) and the newcomer National Labour Party each won a single seat. As a result, 4 political parties with parliamentary seats were eligible to compete in the upcoming 2021 presidential elections.

Despite increasing their seats from 8 to 11, the DP faced a heavy defeat, as all of its lawmakers except Bukhchuluuny Purevdorj lost re-election. Party chairman Sodnomzunduin Erdene also lost his seat in the 4th Bayangol district to the MPP. Following the wipeout, Erdene resigned as party chairman and transferred interim roles to MP-elect Tsevegdorjyn Tuvaan. [7] The party was left weakened by the electoral defeat and internally fractured between various pro and anti-Battulga factions.

Resignation of Khurelsukh

In late January 2021, MPP Chairman and PM Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh resigned during his second term after two days of protest against government handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] Khurelsukh blamed incumbent president Khaltmaagiin Battulga, member of the Democratic Party for inciting protests. This ultimately ended the close relationship between Khurelsukh and Battulga, and kicked off a showdown between Mongolia's most powerful two men. [9]

Khurelsukh's shock resignation led to the collapse of his second cabinet and the appointment of MPP MP Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene as the next prime minister. [10] Khurelsukh remained as chairman of the MPP, leaving many political analysts to speculate that his resignation was an excuse for him to leave the office of prime minister and bid for the presidency. [9]

On 16 April 2021, the Constitutional Court officially countered president Battulga's claims that he should be able to run for a second term. Two days later, Battulga issued an emergency decree to disband the MPP "in order to safeguard the sovereignty and democracy of the country" after the MPP passed amendments to the constitution. [11] [12] [13] The constitutional amendments, which took effect in May 2020, stipulated that the Mongolian president could hold office only for a single term of six years, making Battulga ineligible to re-run in the 2021 presidential election. [14] [15] The State Great Khural did not accept his decree. [13]

Electoral system

Following 2019 constitutional amendments, the president is elected using the two-round system for a six-year term, and may only serve one term. Previously, the term was of four years, renewable once. [16] [17] Political parties with representation in the State Great Khural are allowed to nominate candidates. The elected president must resign from any political party before their inauguration. Presidents can be removed through a two-third majority vote by the State Great Khural if found guilty of abusing their powers or violating the presidential oath.

Articles 97.9 and 99.2 of the electoral law determines how votes are counted, with blank ballots taken into account when determining whether a candidate has crossed the 50% threshold. If no candidate receives a majority of all votes cast in the second round (including blank votes), article 8.6.2 of the electoral law requires fresh elections to be held. [18] [19]

Candidates

Political parties with representatiton in the State Great Khural were to nominate their candidates for the election in early May. [13]

Mongolian People's Party

According to a December 2020 MEC survey, Khurelsukh was the only politician in the MPP who was more popular than president Battulga. [20] Since his resignation as prime minister, it was widely believed by the public that he intended to run for the presidency. [21]

Potential candidate
Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
Shinzo Abe and Mongolian PM Khurelsukh at the PM Office 2018 (1) (cropped).jpg
Chairman of the Mongolian People's Party

(2017-2021)

The year 2021 marked the 100th anniversary of the Mongolian People's Party and the 1921 revolution. [22] In April 29, just six days before the nomination deadline, the MPRP agreed to merge back into the MPP after nearly a decade of seperation. [23] This strategic merger narrowed the amount of candidates in the 2021 race from 4 to 3. The MPRP had been the third-largest party in Mongolia and in the State Great Khural since 2012. Former president and MPRP chairman Nambaryn Enkhbayar backed Khurelsukh for the presidency. [24]

Democratic Party

Political infightings within the DP reached a boiling point in February when presidential nominee hopeful, Tsedevdambyn Oyungerel backed Erdene against interim leader Tuvaan's faction loyal to Battulga. Tuvaan and his allies exiled Erdene from the party for 8 years and in return Erdene excused Tuvaan from his interim position in an online post. In the subsequent following days, many veteran DP politicians and MPs sided against Battulga's renomination but not on the side of Erdene. [25]

Campaign for the next party chairman kicked off in March between 9 candidates. Approximately 200,000 Democratic Party members and supporters were eligible to vote online for the next leader. [26] Two primaries were held by two sides of the party, which led to the party having two elected party chairman, Mainbayaryn Tulgat ally of Erdene and Odongiin Tsogtgerel ally of Tuvaan. [27] The Supreme Court of Mongolia refused to register neither as the party chairman, stating that "this is an internal party matter that the Supreme Court should not be involved with". [28] The DP was unable to unify under a single chairman before the June elections and Battulga increasingly distanced himself from the political infighting.

Potential candidates from Tulgat-led DP [29]
Sodnomzunduin ErdeneRinchinnyamyn AmarjargalTsedevdambyn Oyungerel
S.Erdene.jpg
R.Amarzhargal MUKhAT, Voice of Business uulzalt.jpg
Oyungerel Tsedevdamba.jpg
Former Chairman of the Democratic Party

(2017-2020)

Former Prime Minister of Mongolia

(1999-2000)

Former Member of the State Great Khural

(2012-2016)

Potential candidates from Tsogtgerel-led DP [29]
Norovyn AltankhuyagSainkhuugiin GanbaatarKhishigdembereliin Temuujin
Norovyn Altankhuyag Portrait.jpg
Sainkhuugiin Ganbaatar in 2021 (cropped).jpg
Member of the State Great Khural

(2020-present)

Member of the State Great Khural

(2020-present)
(Joined the DP after the MPRP merged)

Former Minister of Justice and Home Affairs

(2012-2014)

The two factions of the DP nominated Sodnomzunduin Erdene and MP Norovyn Altankhuyag as their presidential nominees. Altankhuyag was nominated by a 97.6% vote from National Policy Committee, and was backed by all 11 Democratic MPs. [30] [31] Erdene was nominated by the Tulgat-led faction on the day before Altankhuyag's nomination, Tsedevdambyn Oyungerel had been considered a potential candidate [32] but she lost her bid to Erdene. [33]

The General Election Commission (GEC) did not accept the two candidates until the party fully decided on a single candidate on May 6. [34] Altankhuyag's ally MPs and supporters protested the GEC decision to not accept the registration, stating "Erdene fractured our party and is not the representation of our party" [35] and launched hunger strikes and demonstrations in Sükhbaatar Square. [36] [37]

It was ultimately decided that Erdene would be nominated for the 2021 election.

Registered candidates

The General Election Commission registered three candidates on 5 May 2021. [38]

NamesBornLast positionParty
Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg
Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh 		14 June 1968 (57)

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Former Prime Minister of Mongolia (2017-2021)
Chairman of the MPP (2017-2021)
Former Member of the State Great Khural (2020-2021)		 Logo of the Mongolian People's Party.svg Mongolian People's Party
Sodnomzunduin Erdene, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg
Sodnomzunduin Erdene 		28 July 1963 (62)

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Former Chairman of the Democratic Party (2017-2020)
Former Member of the State Great Khural (2016-2020)		 Democratic Party of Mongolia logo.png Democratic Party of Mongolia
Dangaasurengiin Enkhbat, 2021 Mongolian presidential candidate.jpg
Dangaasürengiin Enkhbat 		19 January 1959 (66)

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Former Member of the State Great Khural (2008-2012) Right Person Electorate Coalition

Opinion polls

Former Prime Minister Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh led the opinion polls according to an MEC survey in April 2021. [39]

Results

Polls opened at 07:00 in 2,087 polling stations across the country for the 2.1 million registered voters, with special measures in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Mongolia. Voting ended at 22:00. Khürelsükh and Erdene voted in Ulaanbaatar while Enkhbat tested positive for COVID-19 and voted in hospital. [40]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh Mongolian People's Party 823,32672.02
Dangaasürengiin Enkhbat Right Person Electorate Coalition 246,96821.60
Sodnomzunduin Erdene Democratic Party 72,8326.37
Total1,143,126100.00
Valid votes1,143,12694.08
Invalid/blank votes71,9375.92
Total votes1,215,063100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,049,37959.29
Source: GEC, IFES

By area

Subdivision Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh
MPP		 Dangaasürengiin Enkhbat
RPEC		 Sodnomzunduin Erdene
DP
Votes%Votes%Votes%
Aimags of Mongolia
Arkhangai 23,87069.85%3,0468.91%6,18618.10%
Bayan-Ölgii 29,47481.53%1,6164.47%2,6367.29%
Bayankhongor 23,52274.60%2,5077.95%1,8986.02%
Bulgan 17,82578.34%2,29010.06%1,4016.16%
Govi-Altai 18,33684.60%1,6407.57%1,0995.07%
Govisümber 5,03276.87%84612.92%4146.32%
Dornogovi 20,43474.62%4,33615.83%1,4765.39%
Dornod 21,29173.98%4,29214.91%1,4334.98%
Dundgovi 12,78679.06%1,72610.67%8565.29%
Zavkhan 22,05876.21%3,22011.12%1,9156.62%
Övörkhangai 32,87979.32%4,28410.33%1,9154.62%
Ömnögovi 17,87074.16%3,17013.161,6256.74%
Sükhbaatar 23,21587.28%1,3565.10%8803.31%
Selenge 25,14969.93%5,90116.41%2,4016.68%
Töv 26,48178.38%4,07312.05%1,5604.62%
Uvs 23,64277.49%2,6898.81%1,0633.48%
Khovd 24,36673.96%4,17612.68%3,34910.17%
Khövsgöl 32,93168.11%7,93716.42%4,90110.14%
Khentii 26,35682.52%2,3937.49%2,3617.39%
Darkhan-Uul 24,71467.46%7,76421.19%1,6284.44%
Orkhon 27,40868.94%7,96220.03%1,5303.85%
Düüregs of Ulaanbaatar
Khan-Uul 55,18368.67%27,89034.70%4,0635.06%
Baganuur 7,94072.43%1,92017.52%6706.11%
Bagakhangai 1,49284.53%1558.78%653.68%
Bayanzürkh 82,79659.32%42,41430.39%5,6274.03%
Nalaikh 10,30972.51%2,57018.08%6674.69%
Sükhbaatar 32,71056.74%18,09031.38%3,1935.54%
Chingeltei 35,83061.69%15,68027.00%2,7574.75%
Bayangol 48,95452.61%30,24932.51%8,3618.99%
Songino Khairkhan 79,24467.34%26,69222.68%4,7424.03%
Overseas 1,17521.10%4,08473.35%1602.87%
Total823,32667.76%246,96820.33%72,8325.99%

References

  1. ↑ Presidential election scheduled for June 9, 2021 Montsame, 21 January 2021
  2. ↑ "Former PM wins Mongolia's Covid-hit presidential election". France 24. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Mongolia, Presidential Election, 9 June 2021: Final Report". Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe . Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Bayarlkhagva, Munkhnaran. "Mongolia edges towards autocracy". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "After Wild Election Season, What's Next for Mongolia?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  6. ↑ Lkhaajav, Bolor (30 June 2021). "Mongolia's Ruling Party Just Consolidated Power Even More". World Politics Review. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "How to lose an election: Erdene gets it all wrong". Mongolia Weekly. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Lkhaajav, Bolor. "Mongolia's Prime Minister Offers Shock Resignation Amid Protests". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 "What to expect from a Khurelsukh-Battulga showdown". Mongolia Weekly. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  10. ↑ Batchimeg (22 January 2021). "L.OYUN-ERDENE NOMINATED AS PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE". President of Mongolia. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Baljmaa.T (20 April 2021). "President presents ordinance on disbanding Mongolian People's Party". Montsame.
  12. ↑ Battulga Khaltmaa (19 April 2021). "Монгол Улсын Ерөнхийлөгч Х.Баттулга Монгол ардын намыг тараах тухай захирамж гаргаснаа танилцууллаа" (in Mongolian). YouTube.
  13. 1 2 3 "Grappling With Parliament Limiting His Powers, Mongolian President Moves to Dissolve Ruling Party". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Welcome to Battulga's rule in 2020s". Mongolia Weekly. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Marco Rubio, Patrick Leahy Urge State Department to Do More to Promote Democracy in Mongolia". Florida Daily. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "Mongolia votes in first ever presidential runoff". Al Jazeera. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  17. ↑ Volodya, Bolormaa (9 January 2020). "The Amendment On Constitution Of Mongolia". Mondaq. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
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  25. ↑ B, Ariunzaya (1 February 2021). "Ц.Туваан С.Эрдэнийг "хөөж", С.Эрдэнэ Ц.Тувааныг чөлөөлөв". tovch.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 6 September 2025.
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  28. ↑ "АН нэгдэж чадалгүй ЕРӨНХИЙЛӨГЧИЙН СОНГУУЛИЙГ өнжих үү!". zindaa.mn (in Mongolian). 28 April 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  29. 1 2 А., Ням-Өлзий (30 April 2021). "АН-аас Ерөнхийлөгчийн сонгуульд нэр дэвшихийг горилогчид тодорч эхэлсэн бол МАН, ХҮН эцсийн мөчид нэр дэвшигчээ тодруулна". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  30. ↑ Б., Манлай (2 May 2021). "АН-ын ҮБХ Н.Алтанхуягийг Ерөнхийлөгчийн сонгуульд нэр дэвшүүлэхийг 97.6%-ийн саналаар дэмжлээ". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  31. ↑ Г., Номин (1 May 2021). "О.Цогтгэрэл даргатай АН-аас УИХ-ын гишүүн Н.Алтанхуягийг Ерөнхийлөгчийн сонгуульд нэр дэвшүүлэхээр болжээ". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  32. ↑ "Is Mongolia Ready for a Female President?". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  33. ↑ Г., Номин (1 May 2021). "М.Тулгат даргатай АН-аас Ерөнхийлөгчийн сонгуульд өрсөлдөх нэр дэвшигчээр С.Эрдэнэ тодорчээ". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  34. ↑ "БАРИМТ БИЧГИЙГ НЯГТЛАН ШАЛГАЖ ХҮЛЭЭН АВАХЫГ ҮҮРЭГ БОЛГОВ". www.gec.gov.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  35. ↑ Т., Саран (5 May 2021). "УИХ дахь АН-ын бүлгийн гишүүд суулт зарлажээ". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  36. ↑ Т., Саран (5 May 2021). "ФОТО: Нэр дэвшигчээ бүртгэхийг шаардаж, өлсгөлөн зарлаж буй АН-ын гишүүд". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  37. ↑ Г., Мөрөн (6 May 2021). "ФОТО: УИХ дахь Ардчилсан намын бүлгийн гишүүд өлсгөлөн зарласан хоёр дахь өдөр". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  38. ↑ А. Намуун (8 May 2021). "Ерөнхийлөгчийн сонгуульд нэр дэвшигчдийн үнэмлэхийг тавдугаар сарын 24-нд олгож, нийтэд мэдээлнэ". ikon.mn (in Mongolian). Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  39. ↑ "Chart of the Week - Political Ratings". Mongolia Weekly. 18 March 2021. Archived from the original on 19 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  40. ↑ "Mongolian presidential candidates cast votes in presidential election". Xinhua News Agency . 9 June 2021.
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