ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT TO SPECIAL PARLIAMENTARY SESSION REGARDING PM’S RESIGNATION
President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga delivered a speech at the special session of the Parliament on January 21st.
“Distinguished Members of the Parliament,
Today is a sad and dark day, as it will be remembered in the history of Mongolia. The 31st Prime Minister of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, who had been granted the people’s confidence to lead the ruling power, made an unexpected decision to immediately resign for unapprehended reasons.
I am disturbed, in shock, and wondering what pushed the Prime Minister to take such a reckless action, to deliberately accuse the President of Mongolia, and to shatter the people’s unity.
I am truly disappointed in the actions of the Prime Minister, whom I had unanimously collaborated with for Mongolia’s growth.
One thing is certain: This is a coup d’etat, forged by a certain group of people, whose main interest is to take over and oppress the independent country of Mongolia, the group led by Batbold Sukhbaatar MP, to be specific.
As of today, national and international jurisdictions have been examining the cases regarding the operation of Oyu Tolgoi project. Some courts have already identified Batbold Sukhbaatar as the main defendant. To conceal his crimes, he is at his work of embroiling the Mongolian government and diminishing the choices of the Mongolian people.
The current National Security Council had looked at the pressing issues of the country through a single window. The Council members communicated on an unprecedented level of unison.
As the head of the National Security Council and the head of state, I conclude that today’s actions have brought Mongolia’s democracy back to where it began. I officially announce, from the State Great Khural’s podium, that Mongolia has come under a governance crisis.
As the leader of the consultation commission of the amendments to the Constitution, I had given the green light to increasing the powers of Prime Minister, due to my belief that Cabinet should exercise stability and durability.
It is deeply regretful that the Prime Minister himself is derailed by the apparently false assumption that the people’s protests at the square was staged and coordinated by certain personalities. He has the authority to ask the Intelligence Agency and the Police Department for truth, as they are under his direct management.
The results of the 2020 Parliamentary Elections were the expression of the people’s trust in Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh’s ability and personal leadership. Therefore, he does not possess the right to break that trust by abandoning his post in these difficult times as the country fights numerous battles in the face of the pandemic and economic decline.
I state from this podium that Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, the 31st Prime Minister of Mongolia, does not have my support for his decision to resign.”
