A new speaker of parliament has been appointed in Mongolia, signaling a change in leadership within the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP) as part of efforts to reduce tensions following a contentious autumn session.
Uchral Nyam-Osor was elected as speaker with 82.5% of the votes in a ballot held at the end of last week, as stated on the official parliament website. He will replace Amarbayasgalan Dashzevge, who resigned in October amid an internal power struggle with Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav.
Uchral, considered a new face in the MPP, became the party leader earlier this month. Party members rallied around his impeccable reputation, aiming to overcome internal divisions and corruption allegations.
Now Uchral has the opportunity to unite various factions within the party and restore public trust. Julian Dirks, a Mongolia expert from Mannheim University, expresses the opinion that the opposition could strengthen its position if the new speaker fails.
“If internal conflicts within the party and parliament continue to manifest openly, it will create opportunities for the Democratic Party and other opposition groups,” emphasizes Dirks.
Although traditionally the leader of the ruling party often holds the position of prime minister, this is not always the case. Amar Adyaa, editor of Mongolia Weekly, points out that the MPP is aiming for stability and sees it as necessary to keep Zandanshatar in the position of head of government as part of this strategy.
“Zandanshatar is likely to be the MPP's presidential candidate in the 2027 elections, while Uchral may take the position of prime minister. However, this is not a definitive scenario, as much depends on various factors,” adds Amar.
Amar describes Uchral as a “promising parliamentarian” with pro-business views and close ties to both Zandanshatar and President Khurelsukh Ukhna.
Uchral, who holds a master's degree in business administration from the University of Gloucestershire (UK), has been working in parliament since 2016 and is actively involved in digital policy. His participation in the creation of the e-Mongolia platform, an online government services portal, is considered an important contribution to the country's digitization process.
“His promotion was carefully planned; all potential rivals who could challenge him for the party leadership did not participate, as senior party members wanted to see a ‘clean’ leader,” comments Amar. “Although his selection was formally an election, in reality, it was a coronation.”
Supporters believe that Uchral's elevation could calm investors who were previously concerned about recent unrest.
In June, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai resigned amid public protests triggered by a scandal involving his son. In October, Zandanshatar also faced removal from power but managed to remain in his position after a Constitutional Court ruling deemed his resignation illegal. The former speaker is currently under investigation on corruption charges related to coal mining.
“If Uchral can keep the party from descending into chaos, it will create a more stable and promising economic and political situation in Mongolia, conducive to sustainable reforms,” concludes Amar.
author: Michael Kohn
translation: Tatar S.Maidar
source: bne IntelliNews
