4 days Ago
Viral Pictures Draw Public Ire
The scandal first erupted on social media after online posts emerged showing Oyun-Erdene's son and his fiancée on a lavish engagement trip. One photo, which the girlfriend was said to have posted, showed a black Dior shoulder bag, with the caption "Happy birthday to me." Other images depicted the couple shopping and necking in a swimming pool.
The posts circulated virally on the web and were highlighted by local media, leading to questions about how the prime minister's family was able to afford such luxuries. Mongolia's anti-corruption commission began examining their finances, further stirring up public anger and prompting daily protests.
Political Impact and Resignation
Although he denied any wrongdoing and denounced the accusations as a "smear campaign," Oyun-Erdene faced a confidence vote in parliament on Tuesday. Only 44 of the 88 members of Congress who voted in a secret ballot supported him — well short of the 64 votes required for him to keep his job.
In a statement after the vote, Oyun-Erdene said, "It was an honor to serve my country and people in difficult times during pandemics, wars and tariffs.
Mass protests had been intensifying for more than two weeks, fed in large part by young citizens demanding accountability and reform. Oyun-Erdene's ouster is part of public anger overcorruption and the lack of transparency on government's part.
A Broader Corruption Problem
Mongolia ranks low in corruption on the Corruption Perception Index, labeling the country "highly corrupt" and 114th out of 180 countries in 2024. Since Oyun-Erdene was elected, the level of transparency is alleged to have decreased.
Mongolian politics have for years been tainted by corruption. In an unrelated case, the U.S. accused former Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold of purchasing New York real estate with stolen mining funds. He has rejected those claims.
The former Soviet satellite that lies sandwiched between Russia and China has been moving closer to the West in keeping with its "third neighbour policy". But entrenched corruption is still a big challenge in its democratic path.
