VICE SPEAKER CALLS FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT
During the parliamentary session held on January 12, Vice Speaker of Parliament Ts.Nyamdorj, a member of the Mongolian People's Party (MPP), proposed starting the impeachment process for President Ts.Elbegdorj, before his term is finished.
On January 11, President Ts.Elbegdorj held a press conference with the media regarding the current status of air pollution in Ulaanbaatar. The President made controversial remarks during the press conference, stating that Ulaanbaatar had become too “dangerous to live in” and had “no future”, which was not received well by Vice Speaker Ts.Nyamdorj.
Ts.Nyamdorj said, “The President has stated that Ulaanbaatar has become futile and has no future, he announced that no investment should be made in Ulaanbaatar. For a person who has served for eight years as the Head of State, is it okay for him to make such remarks? We need to impeach him before his term is over. Is it appropriate for a state leader, and someone who is supposed to be a symbol of unity, to insult the capital of our country? I urge other Members of Parliament to start the process of impeachment of the President.”
It is speculated that Ts.Nyamdorj is referring to the following statement made by the President during his press conference, “The pollution has reached a level where it has caused stillbirths. If this is not disastrous then what is? It has become dangerous to live in Ulaanbaatar. Ulaanbaatar has become a futile city with no future.”
Ts.Elbegdorj has held the office of President since 2009 and will finish his second term in 2017. He was a Democratic Party candidate and is not legally allowed to seek re-election, as he has served the maximum of two terms.