In a swift political upheaval, Mongolia’s parliament has decisively removed its prime minister just months after ousting his predecessor.
Published On 17 Oct 2025
After a brief tenure of only four months, Mongolia’s Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar has been compelled to resign following a decisive no-confidence vote by the nation’s lawmakers, the State Great Khural announced.
During the parliamentary session on Friday, out of 111 members present, 71 voted in favor of dismissing Zandanshatar, while 40 opposed, according to official parliamentary records.
Earlier, on October 10, over fifty parliamentarians submitted a formal motion calling for the prime minister’s removal, citing breaches of constitutional protocols and governance concerns. Central to the dispute was Zandanshatar’s unilateral appointment of a new minister of justice and home affairs, which critics argued bypassed the required parliamentary consultation.
Lawmakers contended that this appointment infringed upon the constitutional balance of power, undermining both the President’s authority and the legislative body’s role. They stated, “This action violated the core tenets of the constitution and disrupted the separation of powers fundamental to our governance.”
Additional grievances included Zandanshatar’s public remarks regarding an active investigation, which were seen as compromising judicial independence and the presumption of innocence. Furthermore, his adjustments to pricing policies for major mineral exporters were accused of creating an uneven playing field in the market.
Just four months prior, the 55-year-old economist, educated in Russia and formerly a vice-director at one of Mongolia’s largest commercial banks, had been overwhelmingly endorsed by parliament to lead the country.
Zandanshatar succeeded Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, who himself was removed following widespread protests sparked by revelations of extravagant spending by his son. These demonstrations quickly evolved into broader public discontent with entrenched political elites.
Mongolia, a landlocked nation nestled between China and Russia, has long grappled with systemic corruption. The public’s frustration has been fueled by the perception that affluent elites have monopolized the wealth generated from a prolonged coal mining boom.
Following his June no-confidence vote and subsequent resignation, Luvsannamsrai cautioned that such political turmoil could jeopardize Mongolia’s fragile democratic institutions. He warned that if instability persists, economic conditions worsen, and political factions fail to reach consensus, the country’s parliamentary democracy could face collapse.
The rapid succession of two prime ministerial dismissals within a few months raises serious questions about Mongolia’s political stability, potentially undermining investor confidence and clouding the nation’s future prospects.
