1.The 8th Parliamentary Election of Mongolia

On December 20, 2019, the State Great Hural (Parliament) ofMongolia approved a bill on the Law on State Great Hural Election of Mongolia.According to the Law, the 2020 Parliamentary Election was held withplurality-at-large voting system, also known as multiple non-transferable vote.The 76 Parliament seats were distributed into each district and aimag aselectoral constituencies across the country.

The 8th Parliamentary election with a total of 29electoral constituencies was held nationwide on June 24 of 2020, with606 affirmed candidates, including 485 candidates from 13 political parties and4 coalitions, and 121 independent candidates.

The votes for the 2020 Parliamentary Elections had beencounted and aggregated on June 25, 2020. Mongolian People’s Party gained themajority or 62 seats in the 76-seat parliament, while the opposing DemocraticParty won 11 seats.

The three remaining seats were won by S.Ganbaatar from 'OurCoalition' (Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party, Civil Will, Green Party,Mongolian Traditionally United Party), by T.Dorjkhand from 'Right PersonElectorate Coalition' (National Labor Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party,Justice Party) and by an independent candidate N.Altankhuyag, former PrimeMinister of Mongolia, respectively.

Out of 76 elected candidates for the 2020 Parliament, 13 arewomen.

2.Parliament member-elected candidates receive their Identification Cards

Newly elected members of the Parliament received theirIdentification Cards at the State Palace on June 29, 2020.

The General Election Commission (GEC) of Mongolia issued aresolution on the validation of the candidates who received most of the votesin their respective constituency as the member of the State Great Hural (Parliament)of Mongolia.

The State Great Hural election held on 24th June and thepolling took place from 7am to 10pm by local time. Overall 1,475,895 out of2,003,969 voters cast their vote nationwide on Election Day with 73.65% ofvoter turnout.

Photos via http://parliament.mn/n/1zcy

On the same day, the General Election Commission presentedthe State Great Hural election result to the Speaker of the Parliament ofMongolia.

3.The newly elected members of the State Great Hural were inaugurated  

According to the President’s Resolution on setting the date,the Inauguration Session of the Eighth State Great Hural (Parliament) ofMongolia was held on June 30, 2020, where 75 out of 76 member-elected candidateswere present.

The first session was convened by President of Mongolia Kh.Battulga,who delivered an opening remarks.

After the General Election Commission introduction, the sessionwas continued by swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected candidates.

At the afternoon plenary session MP G.Zandanshatar wasre-elected as the Speaker of the State Great Hural by unanimous votes of newlyelected parliamentarians.

4.Cabinet members were accredited

At the plenary session of the State Great Hural held on July08, 2020, newly appointed 17 Cabinet members took an oath headed by PrimeMinister of Mongolia.

By the order of the Prime Minister of Mongolia, MP U.Khurelsukhfollowing Cabinet members were accredited:

2. Ya.Sodbaatar as the Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia

3. L.Oyun-Erdene as the Head of Cabinet Secretariat,Minister of Mongolia

4. MP D.Sarangerel as Minister of Nature, Environment andTourism

5. G.Saikhanbayar, Minister of Defense,

6. N.Enkhtaivan, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

7. MP Ch.Khurelbaatar, Minister of Finance,

8. MP Kh.Nyambaatar, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs,

9. A.Ariunzaya, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare,

10. B.Munkhbaatar, Minister of Construction and UrbanDevelopment,

11. L.Tsedevsuren, Minister of Education and Science,

12. L.Khaltar, Minister of Road and Transport Development,

13. S.Chuluun, Minister of Culture,

14. G.Yondon, Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry,

15. Z.Mendsaikhan, Minister of Food, Agriculture and LightIndustry,

16. N.Tavinbekh, Minister of Energy,

17. T.Munkhsaikhan, Minister of Health;

5.Parliament to function with its 11 Standing Committees

At the plenary session of the State Great Hural held on July09, 2020, it was resolved to function the parliamentary activities with its 11Standing Committees.

1. Standing Committee on Security and Foreign Policy (19members)

2. Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture (19members)

3. Standing Committee on Education, Culture, Science andSports (18 members)

4. Standing Committee on Ethics and Discipline (11 members)

5. Standing Committee on Innovation and e-Policy (19members)

6. Standing Committee on Social Policy (17 members)

7. Standing Committee on State Structures (19 members)

8. Standing Committee on Budget (19 members)

9. Standing Committee on Industrialization Policy (14members)

10. Standing Committee on Legal Affairs (18 members)

11. Standing Committee on Economics (19 members)

6.Parliament calls an extraordinary session

The first extraordinary session following the newly formedthe 8th Parliament was conducted on August 17, 2020.

During the session it was agreed to discuss the Five-YearGuidelines for the Development of Mongolia; Government Action Plan for2020-2024; Draft Law on Amendments to the 2020 Budget Law of Mongolia, DraftLaw on Amendments to the 2020 Budget Law of the Social Insurance Fund, DraftLaw on Amendments to the 2020 Budget Law of the Health Insurance Fund; Draftresolution of the State Great Hural on “Approval of the 2019 consolidatedbudget expenditures of Mongolia”, 2019 consolidated budget expenditures ofMongolia and consolidated financial report of the Government; 2021 FiscalFramework Statement of the Consolidated Budget of Mongolia and draft law onbudget projections for 2022-2023; Draft revised version of the Law of Mongolia onAdministrative and Territorial Units and Their Management; The President'spartial veto on the Law on the State Great Hural of Mongolia issued on May 26,2020; Draft resolution of the State Great Hural on “Approval of the strategy toreduce interest rates”; and Draft Agenda for 2020 Autumn Plenary session of theState Great Hural of Mongolia.

7.State Great Hural attends the Fifth World Conference of Speakers ofParliament

On August 19, 2020, Speaker of the State Great Hural (Parliament)of Mongolia G.Zandanshatar, MP N.Uchral and MP S.Amarsaikhan attended in thevirtual meeting of the Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament hostedby the Inter-Parliament Union (IPU).

The Fifth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament was organizedto build on the outcomes from the previous sessions and further reinforce theparliamentary dimension of global governance. It was organized in closecooperation with the Parliament of Austria and the United Nations, under theoverall theme of Parliamentary leadership for more effective multilateralismthat delivers peace and sustainable development for the people and planet.

Subsequent World Conferences were held every five years inconjunction with the United Nations. On the following day, SpeakerG.Zandanshatar delivered a speech at the panel discussion themed on “Forginginclusive and sustainable economies that deliver well-being and justice forall”.

8.Parliament of Mongolia celebrates its 30 anniversary ofpermanent functioning

Thirty years ago, on September 13, 1990, the State BagaHural convened its first session, marking the beginning of a modern, permanent functioningparliamentary biography in Mongolia.

Commemorating the date, Speaker of the State Great Hural(Parliament) of Mongolia G.Zandanshatar received and paid tribute to the formermembers of the State Baga Hural on September 14, 2020. Over 20 members of theState Baga Hural were present, who were elected as members of the State BagaHural and contributed to the historic process of discussing and approving thenew democratic Constitution of Mongolia.

The first free, democratic and multi-party election inMongolia was held in 1990. Then the newly elected parliament established theState Baga Hural, which replaced the People's Great Hural as the highestlegislative body.

Although the State Baga Hural was formed with a four-yearterm, with the instructions of the People's Great Hural, the draft of the newConstitution of Mongolia based on the principles of universal values wasdiscussed for 76 days and adopted on January 13, 1992. And thus, the State BagaHural handed over its power to the first State Great Hural on July 29, 1992.

9.On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of establishment of the Secretariat

On September 24, 2020, Secretary General of the State GreatHural Ms. L.Ulziisaikhan addressed its employees to congratulate on the occasionof the 30th anniversary of establishment of the Secretariat of Permanent FunctioningParliament.

Then Chairman of the State Baga Hural issued Decree No.4 onSeptember 24, 1990 renaming the State Baga Hural administration as the Secretariatby approving its structure and staff number.

10.Parliamentarians attend the virtual meeting representingMongolia

On September 28, 2020, the Asia-Pacific ParliamentarianForum on Global Health: Ad-hoc virtual meeting on ‘Investing in UniversalHealth Coverage for the Future’ took place, gathering MPs of countries in theAsia and Pacific region.

In connection with the potential risk for disruption in somehealthcare services, and especially in the primary level in not only the regionbut also throughout the world, parliamentarians in Asia and the Pacific regionconvened to introduce the current operations being conducted by their nationallegislature in aims of continuously working towards achieving the objective ofproviding universal healthcare and exchanged information about their practices.MP D.Sarangerel and MP J.Chinburen participated as representatives of Mongoliain the meeting, in which MPs of over 20 countries had participated.

11.Parliament convenes its first regular session

The regular autumn session of the State Great Hural (Parliament)convened on October 1, 2020. The opening ceremony was attended by the Presidentof Mongolia, Cabinet members, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, heads ofgovernment agencies appointed by the State Great Hural, also heads of foreigndiplomatic missions in Mongolia and representatives of internationalorganizations.

12.G.Zandanshatar: Mongolia is willing to be an active participant inEurasian regional economic cooperation

On October 7, 2020, Speaker of the State Great Hural(Parliament) of Mongolia G.Zandanshatar virtually attended the 23rd EurasianEconomic Summit took place in Istanbul, Turkey. More than 40 delegatesincluding heads of state and Governments of Asian and European countries,ministers, members of parliament, former presidents and prime ministers wereparticipating in the two-day summit.

Speaker G.Zandanshatar addressed at the session themed “Thenew balance of power in globalization: The importance of diplomacy and economicsecurity”. He emphasized that Mongolia is also willing to be an activeparticipant in Eurasian regional economic cooperation. And the country set agoal to establish economic corridor of three countries in collaboration withRussia and China, build economy targeted to the third neighbors, join regionaleconomic and trade integration, facilitate trade as well as to become acompetitive Northeast Asian investment hub. All the steps target to ensureeconomic reliability of Mongolia.

13.MPs attend Extraordinary session of the IPU Governing Council

The second day virtual Extraordinary session of the IPUGoverning Council was organized on November 2, 2020. At the meetingrepresenting the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia were attended by MPB.Saranchimeg, member of the Board of the IPU Committee on Democracy and HumanRights, and MP D.Tsogtbaatar.

The 206th Session of the Governing Council discussed andtook decisions on pressing issues relating to the functioning of theorganization - including the adoption of the IPU budget and programme of workfor 2021 and the election of the IPU President.

Following the third day session, Mr. Duarte Pacheco has beenelected as the 30th President of the IPU after an unprecedented online electionduring an extraordinary virtual session of the IPU’s Governing Council, itsmain decision-making body made up of parliamentarians from around the world.

Founded in 1889 the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is theworld's largest parliamentary body that unites the parliaments of 179countries. Mongolia joined the IPU in 1962 and since then has been activelyparticipating in its activities.

14.The 800 years of Kharkhorum - History and Heritage

Under the auspices of Speaker of the State Great Hural(Parliament) ZANDANSHATAR Gombojav, an international scientific conferencethemed “The 800 years of Kharkhorum - History and Heritage” dedicated to the 800thanniversary of Kharkhorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire, was held at theNational Library of Mongolia on December 17, 2020.

The 800th anniversary of the founding of Kharkhorum(Karakorum) city is marked in 2020, and in this regard an online conference wasorganized by the Parliament of Mongolia, International Association for MongolStudies, Institute of Archaeology of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences,Institute of History and Ethnography, National Library and the KharkhorumSociety.

In his welcome message, Speaker G.Zandanshatar noted,“Kharkhorum is not only the ancient capital of Mongolia, but also a valuablehistorical and cultural heritage of the Mongolian people. According tohistorical sources, Ezen Bogd Chinggis Khaan (Great Khan and Emperor of theMongol Empire, Genghis Khan) declared Kharkhorum as the capital of the MongolEmpire in 1220, the year of the iron dragon, and Ogedei Khan built TumenAmgalant Palace in the spring of 1235, the year of the blue sheep. Kharkhorum,now Kharkhorin, was culminated in its prosperity as an important hub inpolitical, cultural, religious, trade and communication, connecting Asia andEurope, as well as then world-famous complex of nomadic and sedentarycivilizations. Therefore, it is our noble duty today to preserve this rare andprecious historical heritage, to pass it on to future generations, and todevelop it in accordance with modern standards. Thus, the issue of Kharkhorindevelopment has always been at the center of Mongolian state policy.

The road construction connecting the East and West under the“Millennium Road” project, approved by the Parliament Resolution No.09 in 2001,is related and coincided with the proclamation of Chinggis Khaan as the “Man ofthe Millennium”. Moreover, the "Sustainable Development Vision 2050",Mongolia’s long-term development policy approved by the Parliament on May 13,2020, stipulates to support the development of national archaeology, preservevalues, restore and strengthen the ruins such as the ancient city of Kharkhorum,and establish museums, foundations and research centers specializing inarchaeology, paleontology and ethnography. In addition, it states to conduct afeasibility study and general development plan for the new capital city in theOrkhon Valley and to begin construction works in 2021-2030. So it’s time toimplement a state policy to upbuild a new city in the Orkhon Valley bycontinuing the study, protection and restoration of the ruins and monuments ofthe ancient capital of Kharkhorum”. He also emphasized the importance of thisscientific conference for the new future of the historic city.

15.www.lawmaker.parliament.mnand www.lawforum.parliament.mn platformslaunched

In the scope of parliamentary reform, MPs Kh.Bulgantuya,B.Jargalmaa, J.Munkhbat and J.Sukhbaatar called a press conference on December 22,2020 to introduce electronic platforms for drafting and discussing bills withthe public participation.

The lawmaker.parliament.mn platform is designed for lawmakersand the lawforum.parliament.mn system provides an opportunity for citizens todraft bills, participate in discussions, and express their views on proposedlegal provisions.

Press and Public Relations Department of the State Great Hural