Political Reforms in Mongolia
The disintegration of the socialist system, which was one of the remarkable events which took place at the end of the 1980s and the beginning of 1990s throughout the world, opened up possibilities of making essential changes in the socio-economic life of former socialist countries. Coincidentally, with the renewals going on in the Soviet Union and East European countries, the same process began to happen in Asian socialist countries, in Mongolia in particular. As in other socialist countries, Mongolia was ruled by a single-party political system, Marxist-Leninist philosophy had to be worshipped dogmatically, and every effort was made to implement this by any means whatsoever.
By N. ALTANTSETSEG
The existing centralized planned economy was based on state ownership. Human rights, freedoms, and basic principles of democracy were violated to a great extent. So the climate in Mongolia was right for a strong movement to develop to overcome this situation, by changing the political and economic systems and developing the country in a democratic way. From its inception the democratic movement in Mongolia was characterized more by political features rather than economic ones. The late S. Zorig, General Co-ordinator of the Mongolian Democratic Union, who was killed in dubious circumstances, once said the following: 'The goal and the guideline of Mongolian Democratic movement of Mongolia is to transfer to a multiparty system, adopt a law about political parties, to put an end to the predominant rulership of one party, to change the People's Great Khural into a permanently working Parliament, and the establishment of a commission on human rights'.New political organizations commenced their activities. Parties and organizations like the New Development Union, the Democratic Socialist Movement, the Mongolian Green Party, the Mongolian Social Democratic Party, the Mongolian National Development Party, and the Mongolian Free Labour Party were established. They have not only swelled in numbers, they have widened the framework of their activities as well. As a result of the stalwart struggle and the persistent urging by Mongolian democratic forces, the Central Committee of the MPRP called an urgent meeting at which it made the decision that the Political Bureau and all party secretaries should be dismissed completely.
Pluralism
This 1990 decision marked a democratic revolution won by peaceful means, forcing an authoritarian regime to collapse, and it created the political and legal foundations for establishing a democratic political system in Mongolia. It opened up possibilities for eliminating the single party ideology and for establishing conditions for pluralism. It unlocked possibilities for the socialist centralized economy to transform into a market economy and for the creation of free competition among the economic units in the country. It created the social and legal environment necessary for the implementation of democracy, human rights, and freedoms, for putting people at the centre of social life.
The process of political renewal in Mongolia can be divided into the following stages:
The stage of transition from a one-party system to a system with a permanently working parliament, between December 1990 and July 1992. The main features of this stage were:
The multi-party system was introduced and any problems which arose were solved by the political powers on the basis of discussions and compromise.
The Administration of the President of Mongolia was established in order to solve problems by peaceful means. Without this, the conflict between the old system and the new could have ruptured the pristine state administrative mechanism.
At this time the State Baga Khural (Small Parliament) continued to conduct the matters of state until the new Constitution was adopted and the new permanent Parliament began its work. In the Baga Khural, the highest legislative body, the seats were divided as follows: the MPRP 31, the Mongolian Development Party, and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party 3 each.
During the first democratic elections held in 1990, the number of deputies was increased from 370 to 430 and taking the proposals of the parties into consideration a new state Baga Khural was established.
It was decided to discuss the new constitution and present it to the Parliament to be ratified.
During the elections of 1990, the deputies to all the levels of the khurals were elected. Four hundred and thirty people were elected to the Baga Khural and about 13,000 deputies to the local khurals.
The former ruling party won 68 seats and the democratic forces 32 seats in the Baga Khural. This meant that the MPRP had a free hand to arrange its own cabinet, nevertheless it was composed in such way that D. Ganbold from the Mongolian National Development Party and Dorligjav from the Mongolian Democratic party were appointed as deputy-prime ministers. So 14 members or 87.5 per cent of the Cabinet were drawn from the MPRP, with the Mongolian National Development Party and the Mongolian Democratic Party having one person each giving them 12.5 per cent.
This transitional system lasted till July 1992 and the working principles of the Great Khural and the Government were described in the supplement to the Constitution. The principles of the new democratic system were thoroughly worked out and, after it had been discussed by the population of the country, the New Constitution of Mongolia was adopted on January 13, 1992. The principles of the state activities and the composition of the state organizations were set out in it. The Constitution says that 'the Great Khural of Mongolia is the highest state governing body and the legislative rights belong to the Great Khural only. The Great Khural has one chamber and seventy-six members, members of the Great Khural are elected by the citizens on the basis of free, direct elections'. 'The President is the Head of the State person who symbolizes unity of the country.' The Constitution states unequivocally: 'The Government is the highest executive body.'
Peculiar
The New Constitution declares Mongolia to be a parliamentary republic. It divides the power between the Great Khural as the legislative body, the executive bodies (President as the Head of the State and the Government), and the judicial body, the Court. But it is peculiar because it has some features of a presidential state. The president who is elected by the whole population has the right to veto the decisions on the laws adopted by the Parliament and the Parliament can reject the veto if two-thirds of its members vote to do so. The president appoints the judges, but the courts work independently. The supreme executive body must report its actions to the supreme legislative body. The constitution provides possibilities for all these bodies to work independently, but at the same time has built-in mechanisms for mutual control and balance. The democratic system created the Constitutional Court which is the highest body to protect the administration of justice and control the implementation of the constitution.
2. The stage of establishing a permanently working Parliament, the period after July 1992. The outstanding features of this period have been:
The Parliament has been elected taking the programmes of the parties and the real situation in the country into consideration.
Human rights have been declared to be the most precious item in the political sphere.
A mechanism was created which allows the minority to put a check on the activities of the majority in the Parliament.
Since 1992 when the new Constitution was adopted, two parliamentary and two presidential elections have taken place. In the 1992 elections to the Parliament, the Mongolian Democratic Party, the National Development Party and the Mongolian United Parties formed a union which contested the elections as a single body. The Mongolian Social Democratic Party participated independently. At these elections the MPRP won 71 seats. The Union of the Mongolian Democratic Party, the National Development Party, and the Mongolian United Parties four and the Social Democratic Party one seat. The MPRP gained beneficial experience in participating in elections, and besides this, the participation of a number of different small parties influenced the results of elections. And at that time not much trust was evinced in the new young parties.
At the presidential elections, which were held not long after the parliamentary ones, the Mongolian National Democratic Party united itself with many small democratic parties and together with the Mongolian Social Democratic Party put forward the name of P. Ochirbat as presidential candidate. At the first presidential elections P. Ochirbat won by 57.8 per cent.
At the regular parliamentary elections in 1996, the National Democratic Party and the Social Democratic party organized the 'Democratic Union Association' to participate in the elections. The 'Democratic Union Association' won fifty seats, the MPRP won 25 and the Mongolian Traditional United Party 1 seat.
At the first session of the newly elected parliament, which took place on July 18, 1996, a member of the Social Democratic Party R. Gonchigdorj was elected as speaker of the Parliament and a member of the Democratic Party, Ts. Elbegdorj, as deputy speaker. The next day, the Association started to organize its cabinet headed by M. Enkhsaikhan. N. Bagabandi worked as the leader of the MPRP group of the Parliament.
The elections showed the faith of Mongolians in their espousal of the democratic way of development, the honouring of human rights, and the advantages of the market economy. People put a great deal of trust in the new state. This did not mark the end of the struggle in the Mongolian political arena. During this period of time the MPRP put a full stop behind its earlier activities and managed to revise its policy, which brought better results. For example, at the presidential elections of 1997, the candidate from the MPRP, N. Bagabandi, won the election gaining 60.8 per cent of the votes. The MPRP was also quite successful in the elections after 1993.
The recent rise in the MPRP's prestige can be explained by the fact that, although the main guidelines of the policy of Democratic Union were right, it has made some mistakes during their implementation. The Association has produced four new governments in the 3 years since July 19, 1996. Now the fourth government has taken office. The frequent changes in government are connected with the difficulties of the transition period.
During the process of privatization, many former state-owned enterprises were closed down as a result of which the number of unemployed rose. This caused a fall in the standard living of the population, which was the reason for the dismissal of the first democratic government. The second government failed to accomplish the overhaul and development of the Mongolian banking system. The third government was dismissed in connection with problem of the Mongolian-Russian joint combine 'Erdenet'. Now the fourth government is ensconced. It is headed by the Prime Minister R. Amarjargal.
From all which has been said above it is evident that there is conflict between the political system and the economic system arising from the transition to the market economy. Difficulties which have occurred during this transition period have had an adverse influence on the minds of people. In other words, economic difficulties have influenced the political situation. Deterred by the mistakes made by the Democratic Union, people have turned to the MPRP in increasing numbers. It is clear that at the elections to be held in 2000 people will give their votes to those forces which they feel might be able to solve socio-economic problems which are being faced by the country.
Nowadays the situation requires party and political forces which can improve the living conditions of people and pull the country out of the economic crisis. Whatever happens Mongolia should not and will not turn away from the democratic way of development. We are confident that in the near future the country shall overcome its present economic difficulties. *
Dr N. Altantsetseg, an IIAS visiting exchange fellow (Mongolian Academy of Science) can be reached at:
E-mail: iiasguest8@let.leidenuniv.nl