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Mongolia’s Prime Minister Resigns After Losing Confidence Vote Amid Corruption Uproar

Mongolia’s PM Oyun-Erdene has resigned as protests over alleged corruption and son’s lavish lifestyle rock Mongolia’s leadership.

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has resigned after losing a parliamentary confidence vote, following weeks of public protests over alleged corruption and the lavish lifestyle of his family.

The no-confidence motion, triggered by mounting unrest on the streets and online backlash, saw 44 MPs vote in favour of Oyun-Erdene out of 82 who participated—falling short of the 64-seat majority needed in the 126-seat parliament.

“It was an honour to serve my country and people in times of difficulties, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs,” Oyun-Erdene said after the vote. He will continue as caretaker prime minister until a successor is appointed within 30 days.

The protests, largely youth-led, had been building for two weeks, fuelled by viral social media posts showcasing Oyun-Erdene’s son’s extravagant birthday party and a lavish wedding proposal. Critics questioned the family’s source of wealth, especially amid growing economic hardships in the country.

Oyun-Erdene denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was the victim of a smear campaign. Nonetheless, public trust had eroded. Transparency International currently ranks Mongolia 114th out of 180 countries for government transparency, a decline during his tenure.

Corruption has long plagued Mongolian politics. In a separate case last year, former prime minister Sukhbaatar Batbold faced US forfeiture proceedings over alleged use of stolen mining funds to purchase properties in New York—claims he has denied.

Oyun-Erdene, who took office in 2021, had attempted to balance Mongolia’s foreign relations through its “third neighbour” policy, strengthening ties with the US and Europe while navigating its geopolitical position between China and Russia.

His resignation now throws the political landscape into uncertainty, as Mongolians await a new leader to steer the country through economic and governance challenges.

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