Politics

Mongolia’s new president sworn in for next 6 years

Beijing, Jun 25 (EFE).- The winner of Mongolia’s presidential elections, Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, was sworn in Friday as president of the country before parliament for the next six years.

“I swear to defend Mongolia’s independence, sovereignty, freedom and national unity, uphold the Constitution and fairly fulfill my obligations as president,” the new head of state said, according to Mongolian news agency Montsame.

The source said the ceremony also included a bow to the national flag.

Khurelsukh, of the Mongol People’s Party, won 67.8 percent of the vote in the elections at the beginning of the month, according to the final data.

Both the leadership of the country and the government are now from the same party, after years of disagreements between the Democratic Party of the former President Khaltmaagiin Battulga and the People’s Party government, which revalidated its parliamentary majority in June 2020.

After the reform approved by the Mongolian parliament in 2019, Khurelsukh – who was forced to resign as prime minister last January after a wave of protests – will be able to lead the country for only one term, which was nonetheless extended from four to six years.

On Apr. 16, the Mongolian Constitutional Court ruled that the single-term rule would not only apply to future presidents, but also to then-president, Battulga – one of the richest men in the country and a former champion of sambo wrestling. This knocked him out of the race for power and sparked angry protests on his part. EFE

jt/lds

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