Mongolian PM resigns after losing confidence vote
Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned on Tuesday after failing to secure enough support in a confidence vote, a parliamentary statement said.
It comes after weeks of public protests against allegations of corruption.
Oyun-Erdene received just 44 votes in the 126-seat parliament, well below the 64 needed to remain in office.
Following the declaration of the results, Oyun-Erdene said: "It was an honor to serve my country and people in times of difficulties, including pandemics, wars, and tariffs."
He will remain a caretaker role until a successor is appointed within 30 days.
Political crisis brews
Prior to the vote, Oyun-Erdene has warned that the confidence motion could cause instability and posed a threat to democracy in the country.
"If governance becomes unstable, the economic situation deteriorates, and political parties cannot come to consensus. It could lead the public to lose faith in parliamentary rule and potentially put our democratic parliamentary system at risk of collapse," he said.
Formerly communist Mongolia adopted democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Last month, Oyun-Erdene's Mongolian People's Party (MPP) expelled the Democratic Party (DP) from the ruling coalition after some of its younger lawmakers backed calls for the prime minister's resignation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không?
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
Protests against corruption
The prime minister's resignation follows days of youth-led protests in capital Ulaanbaatar calling for his ouster over inequality, corruption, and rising living costs, with citizens demanding reform and accountability.
Reports of lavish spending by Oyun-Erdene's son fueled the protesters.
The protesters have said the country's mineral riches have benefited businesses and the wealthy, while many Mongolians still live in poverty.
In a statement to AFP last month, the prime minister's office said it "vehemently" denied the allegations, labelling them as a "smear."
Mongolia's drop in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index since Oyun-Erdene came to power in 2021 also did not help his cause.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Brazilian investigators say Jair Bolsonaro recieved $5 million without justification, suspect money laundering
Brazilian federal police accuse former president Jair Bolsonaro of receiving large sums of money without apparent justification between March of 2023 and February of 2024, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press, potentially adding to the embattled former leader's legal woes. Brazil's federal police say in the new documents that Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo used 'several manoeuvres to dissimulate the origin and destination of financial resources.(AFP) Investigators say Brazil's financial watchdog suspects it has a case of money laundering involving Bolsonaro, who in early September will face the verdict and sentencing phase of his trial over an alleged coup plot. The former president could face another trial if the attorney general decides to charge him on accusations of obstruction of justice. Bolsonaro did not immediately comment on the latest accusation but in the past has claimed he is being persecuted politically by the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The new documents, obtained by the AP on Thursday, added to a 170-page long obstruction-of-justice investigation allege Bolsonaro received more than 30 million Brazilian reais ($5 million), most of it without apparent justification, along with debits of almost the same amount during that period. He was president from Jan 1, 2019 to Dec 31, 2022. The AP had access to the documents, which were sent to the country's Supreme Court. Much of the information of the financial watchdog comes from state-run bank Banco do Brasil. Almost 20 million reais ($3.48 million) allegedly came from more than 1.2 million direct transactions called PIX. Bolsonaro spent a similar amount on investments during the period. The documents also showed that the former president spent money on wire transfers, payment of deposit slips, withdrawals and exchange operations. Brazil's federal police say in the new documents that Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo used 'several maneuvers to dissimulate the origin and destination of financial resources, with the aim of financing and supporting activities of illegal nature of the lawmaker (Eduardo Bolsonaro) living abroad.' Earlier, Bolsonaro's lawyers said they were surprised by the federal police's decision to formally accuse him of obstruction of justice. The federal police investigation revealed on Wednesday that Bolsonaro considered seeking political asylum in Argentina last year and that he continued to communicate with allies in recent weeks despite precautionary measures that now force him to be under house arrest. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, told Bolsonaro's lawyers late on Wednesday that they had 48 hours to explain why the former president was not complying with measures established for his house arrest order. Bolsonaro's lawyers denied any wrongdoing in that case. 'There was never noncompliance with any precautionary measure previously imposed,' the lawyers said in a statement, in which they added they will clarify Bolsonaro's recent actions to de Moraes in a timely fashion. Also on Thursday, one of Bolsonaro's lawyers said in a TV interview that the former president never seriously considered seeking political asylum in Argentina. Paulo Cunha Bueno told TV GloboNews that Bolsonaro received 'every kind of suggestion' as the investigations on him went forward. 'Someone sent him that asylum request in February of 2024. He could have gone, but he did not. He didn't want it and he was neither in house arrest nor in ankle monitoring. He had every condition to flee and he did not,' Cunha said. Bolsonaro claimed in a 33-page document to Milei he was being politically persecuted in Brazil, documents obtained by federal police show. Both are staunch supporters of US President Donald Trump, who has recently repeated some of the former president's claims in his decision to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports. Bolsonaro had his passport seized by Brazil's Supreme Court in on Feb 8, 2024. He has repeatedly sought to get it back, including prior to Trump's inauguration earlier this year. De Moraes rejected all requests as the former president is seen as a flight risk. Manuel Adorni, spokesperson for Milei, said the Argentine government hasn't received anything yet. A verdict and sentence in the coup trial will come from a Supreme Court panel of five justices. They are scheduled to announce their rulings between Sept 2 and 12. The new findings will not be part of that decision. (AP) SCY SCY
Hindustan Times
18 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
55 million US visa holders under review as Trump admin intensifies immigration crackdown
Over 55 million US visa holders and applicants are now under review as the Trump administration strengthens its crackdown on immigrants. As per an AP report, this review is being done to check for any violations which could lead to deportation. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause in all visas for foreign truck drivers, the state department said it was vetting around 55 million visa holders, applicants (REUTERS) In a written answer to AP, the US State Department said all US visa holders, including tourists, are now under "continuous vetting". IN case any violation is found, the visa will be revoked and the person will be considering "ineligible" to visit the US. If the person is in the United States, the visa holder will then be deported to their home country. The State Department said it was looking for indicators of ineligibility, including people staying past the timeframe outlined in a visa, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organisation. 'We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance, indicating a potential ineligibility,' said the State Department. Shortly after this news went public, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a pause in all visas for foreign truck drivers. US halts work visas for foreign truck drivers Rubio's decision comes after Harjinder Singh, an Indian-origin truck driver, was named as the prime suspect behind a crash in Florida which killed three people. In his post on X, the top US diplomat said, "the increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers." In an official statement, the State Department added that it was pausing these work visas to review its "Screening and vetting protocols." "Ensuring that every driver on our roads meets the highest standards is important to protecting the livelihoods of American truckers and maintaining a secure, resilient supply chain,' the department said, as per AP. US increasing vetting for visa holders, applicants The US government had already announced it will be increasing tis vetting of US visa holders as well as applicants as part of its new crackdown. Under President Donald Trump, the State Department has been ordered to look into social media accounts of applicants, visa holders for any 'anti-American' activities. Under this order, social media accounts and activity need to be screened for "hostility" and whether applicants "promote anti-Semitic ideologies'. 'America's benefits should not be given to those who despise the country and promote anti-American ideologies,' said ICE spokesperson Matthew Tragesser earlier this month.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gold holds steady as traders await Powell's Jackson Hole speech
Gold prices held steady on Friday as investors refrained from taking any big bets ahead of U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell 's speech at the annual Jackson Hole symposium that could offer fresh clues on the monetary policy path. FUNDAMENTALS by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 32 Most Beautiful Women In The World Undo * Spot gold was steady at $3,337.12 per ounce, as of 0042 GMT. U.S. gold futures for December delivery were unchanged at $3,380.30. * The U.S. dollar index hovered near a one-week high and was set for a weekly gain, making gold less attractive to overseas buyers. * Fed officials appeared lukewarm on Thursday to the idea of a rate cut next month as investors geared up for Powell's speech, due at 1400 GMT on Friday. Live Events * The market is waiting to see if his speech offers any clarity on whether the central bank will cut rates at its September 16-17 meeting. * Futures markets indicate a 75% chance of a quarter-point rate reduction next month, according to CME 's FedWatch tool. * U.S. jobless claims rose last week by the most in nearly three months, while unemployment claims in the prior week hit a near four-year high, signaling recent labor market softness continued into August. * The challenge for Fed policymakers is that even as there have been signs of labor market weakening, inflation remains above the central bank's 2% target and could well go higher due to the Trump administration's aggressive hiking of tariffs on imports. * On the geopolitical front, Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, three sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking told Reuters. * Elsewhere, spot silver was down 0.2% to $38.08 per ounce, platinum fell 0.4% to $1,347.50 and palladium held steady at $1,111.07. DATA/EVENTS (GMT) 0500 Japan Chain store sales YY July 0600 Germany GDP detailed QQ SA, YY NSA Q2 0645 France Business climate mfg, overall August.
