Mongolia 2005

Yearbook 2005

Mongolia. Following the political stalemate that arose through the regular and disputed parliamentary elections in 2004, Mongolia returned to elections in 2005, now to appoint a new president after departing Natsagiyn Bagabandi. The non-socialist opposition had almost taken back the majority in Parliament a year earlier, but in the presidential election, the socialist candidate Nambarijn Enchbajar clearly defeated his fellow voters and received 53.4% of the vote. According to countryaah, Ulaanbaatar is the capital and one of the major cities within the country of Mongolia. Enchbajar was prime minister until 2004, when he left that post to a non-socialist to resolve the government crisis and himself was elected President of Parliament. Unlike the parliamentary elections, the presidential elections went smoothly and the approximately 100 foreign observers had no complaints.

Mongolia is plagued by a weak economy and high unemployment, but corruption is perceived as the country’s major problem. The election was preceded by widespread protests against the social clutter and demands for greater transparency in the state’s operations.