Mongolia’s prime minister resigns after losing confidence vote

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene has stepped down after losing a vote of confidence in parliament, following weeks of public protests over corruption allegations involving him and his family.

The State Great Khural announced Tuesday that Oyun-Erdene was deemed to have resigned after lawmakers failed to pass a draft resolution on the confidence vote. Only 44 of 82 lawmakers backed him—well below the 64-vote threshold required.

He will stay on as caretaker prime minister until a successor is appointed within 30 days.

Oyun-Erdene, who took office in January 2021 and was re-elected in July 2024, addressed parliament after the result, saying it had been an honor to serve the country through challenges like the pandemic, war, and rising tariffs. He acknowledged that he had focused heavily on major infrastructure and resource development projects, but admitted he paid "too little attention to social and political issues."

The protests, which erupted in mid-May in the capital Ulaanbaatar, centered on reports of lavish spending by Oyun-Erdene's son and broader allegations of corruption at the top levels of government.

In a statement posted on the parliament’s website, Oyun-Erdene thanked citizens and youth for voicing concerns about transparency but said he regretted that their views had been “used as a political pretext causing instability.” He insisted he remained committed to fighting corruption.

During his time in office, Oyun-Erdene pushed for 14 large-scale projects in the mineral-rich country, including mineral processing plants, dams, power stations, and major water infrastructure.

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