Mongolian presidential election, 2009

Mongolian presidential election, 2009

24 May 2009

Nominee Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj Nambaryn Enkhbayar Party DP People's Revolutionary Popular vote 562,718 520,948 Percentage 51.93% 48.07%

Aimags majority won by DP (blue), MPRP (red)

President before election Nambaryn Enkhbayar People's Revolutionary Elected President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj DP

Presidential elections were held in Mongolia on 24 May 2009. They were contested between incumbent Nambaryn Enkhbayar, supported by the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, who had support of the Democratic Party and the opposition parties. Elbegdorj declared himself the victor before the count was official but based on his party's counts. Enkhbayar admitted a narrow defeat shortly after and said that he would respect the results, marking the first time an incumbent president had lost their bid for re-election.

Background

There had been fears that a close result could lead to civil unrest as happened in the 2008 legislative election, where allegations of vote rigging had sparked street protests and clashes with the police during which five people lost their lives and hundreds were injured.^[1] Although, police and army units were on stand-by to contain any protest, the people seemed satisfied with the report of the election monitors in that there was no finding of fraudulent votes.^[1][2]

Candidates

Presidential candidates were only allowed from parties which had representation in the State Great Khural. The eligible parties were the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Democratic Party, Civic Will Party and Mongolian Green Party. The MPRP fielded the incumbent president Nambaryn Enkhbayar as its presidential candidate.^[3] The Democratic Party chose former prime minister Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj as their candidate.^[4] The Civic Will and Green parties did not field a candidate and instead chose to support Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the Democratic Party's candidate, thus providing the electorate with a choice between the incumbent or a candidate supported by all of the opposition parties.^[5][6]

Elbegdorj, who served twice as prime minister, campaigned on a theme of anti-corruption and a need for change which proved popular in urban areas.^[7] Both candidates' campaigns were dominated by the issue of how Mongolia's mineral wealth should be distributed.^[1]

Results

Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj	Democratic Party	562,718	51.93
Nambaryn Enkhbayar	Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party	520,948	48.07
Invalid/blank votes		15,209	–
Total		1,097,187	100
Registered voters/turnout		1,493,217	73.48
Source: IFES

The United States Senate passed Resolution number 192 supporting Mongolia's democracy and economic development and noting Elbegdorj's election victory on the day he was sworn in on 18 June 2009.^[8]

References

Democratic Party Headquarters after results are announced

1. "Mongolia opposition wins election". BBC. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
2. "2009 Mongolian Presidential Election". June 1, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
3. "Н.Энхбаяр 100 хувийн саналаар нэр дэвшихээр боллоо". News.mn (in Mongolian). April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
4. "Ц.Элбэгдорж: Манай нам ардчилсан гэдгээ харууллаа". News.mn (in Mongolian). April 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
5. "ИЗН Ц.Элбэгдоржийг дэмжих шийдвэрээ баталгаажууллаа". News.mn (in Mongolian). April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
6. "Ногоон намын хурал дээр Ц.Элбэгдорж хөтөлбөрөө танилцуулна". News.mn (in Mongolian). April 3, 2009. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
7. MacArtney, Jane (25 May 2009). "Harvard graduate Elbegdorj Tsahia wins Mongolian election". London: The Times. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
8. "S.RES.192 – Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding supporting democracy and economic development in Mongolia and expanding relations between the United States and Mongolia". The Library of Congress. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 25 June 2013.