Mongolian Prime Minister Gains Power in Constitutional Change

  • Parliament extends president’s term to six years, up from four
  • Opposition parties boycotted Parliamentary vote in Ulaanbaatar
Ukhnaa KhurelsukhPhotographer: Chen Boyuan/Imaginechina
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Mongolian lawmakers amended the nation’s constitution, consolidating powers of the premier while extending presidential terms, changes that prompted a voting boycott by opposition parties.

The amendments hypothetically grant Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa the ability to select cabinet members, without sign off from Parliament, according to a reading by the speaker late Thursday in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. The changes also give the president a six-year term, up from the current four. However, it removes their opportunity to run for a second time.