Mongolia President Vote Heads for Run-off as Populist Surges
- Ruling party chief squeaks into second round on July 9
- Leading candidate seeks more control over mining resources
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The party overseeing Mongolia’s economic recovery plan was dealt a setback after its presidential candidate finished second behind a populist businessman promising stricter controls over mineral resources.
Democratic Party candidate Battulga Khaltmaa, a former cabinet minister, received 38.1 percent of the vote, securing an unprecedented run-off election against Parliament Speaker Enkhbold Miyegombo, according to the General Election Commission. Enkhbold, the head of the Mongolian People’s Party, squeaked into the second round with 30.3 percent, or 0.1 percentage point more than ex-lawmaker Ganbaatar Sainkhuu, of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party.