Mongolia’s nine-member Constitutional Court announced late on October 22 that a parliamentary resolution to dismiss Prime Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav was illegal. Court member O. Monkhsaikhan confirmed the ruling after a closed-door session, local media reported.
The court ruling follows a presidential veto of the parliamentary vote announced on October 20. President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s office said the vote to remove Zandanshatar was invalid because a quorum was not present when Parliament began deliberating the matter.
The court decision and the presidential ruling cap a tumultuous week in Mongolia. In addition to the move to oust Zandanshatar, the Speaker of Parliament, Amarbayasgalan Dashzegve, resigned from his position last week.
The crisis stems from a power struggle between Amarbayasgalan and Zandanshatar and the factions behind them. In September, Zandanshatar lost the leadership of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) to Amarbayasgalan and later accused the speaker of being connected to corruption in the coal industry.
Amar Adiya, publisher of the online newsletter Mongolia Weekly, said the pro-speaker group “rushed and sloppily handled the motion.” He does not expect a second attempt to vote out Zandanshatar. If the current situation holds, it will allow the government to pass a badly needed spending budget for the coming year.
“It closes the issue for now,” said Amar. “A relief for Zandanshatar loyalists and [it] ensures a sort of government stability, temporarily at least.”
The crisis roiling the MPP could come to a head—or be resolved—when the party meets for a congress in mid-November. Mongolians and observers will watch the proceedings carefully as the factions within the party look to resolve their issues.
“A resolution seems unlikely unless both parties are willing to compromise and put aside their pride,” said Amar. “As things stand, a significant sacrifice is needed to break the impasse.”
By Michael Kohn

Published Date:2025-10-23