Constitutional amendments reviewed by Cabinet

Representatives from the parliamentary task force making amendments to the Constitution held a press conference on July 2 at the State Palace.

Head of the task force D.Lundeejantsan pointed out that 67 out of 75 lawmakers agreed to submit the current version of constitutional amendments that was drafted by the task force to Parliament.

MP D.Lundeejantsan noted that the draft version was delivered to Cabinet and state organizations for review, and that reviews and recommendations will become ready within 30 days.

He stressed that after receiving recommendations and reviews of Cabinet and state organizations on the draft, the task force will submit its final draft to Parliament for discussion.

D.Lundeejantsan said many proposals to improve lawmakers’ ethics, maintain political stability, and address mass dismissals of state officials after elections were made by public during open discussions organized throughout the country and through post, e-mail and social media.

In response to these proposals, the task force has proposed sections in the draft, which outlines that Cabinet dissolution shall be reviewed by Parliament through the demand of 39 lawmakers or more, and if the majority of lawmakers in attendance accept the nomination of a prime minister, the incumbent prime minister will be ousted and his or her Cabinet will be disbanded, the merit system for hiring civil servants based on fair and transparent selection process shall be adopted in Mongolia, the current minimum age requirement of 25 for parliamentary election candidates shall increase to 30, Parliament will have the authority oust or cancel the immunity of a lawmaker who doesn’t adhere to their responsibilities outlined in the Constitution; and regular meetings of Parliament’s spring or fall sessions shall convene for 75 days.

The lawmaker added that the constitutional amendments will enhance Cabinet’s responsibilities on state budget planning; give Parliament the authority to create a temporary committee for reviewing a public interest issue; clear up issues with respect to funding, increase power of Parliament’s opposition groups, responsibilities and accountabilities of political parties clear; make the nominees of the judges of the Supreme Court independent from political influences; strengthen regional administration and governance systems; and make legal statuses of the capital, province, and city clear.

MP S.Byambatsogt, a member of the task force, emphasized that as the current president, prime minister and legislature are not working together well to address the nation’s socio-economic challenges and they ignore their initiatives and works, the task force has made amendments for redefining the president’s powers and responsibilities, the balance of power between legislature and government, making law enforcement organizations more independent, enhancing regional administration and governance systems, strengthening discipline, and ensuring accountability of state officials.

He added that as the task force believes that making amendments to the Constitution effective will be of great importance to dealing with the current challenging political and economic circumstances, Cabinet and Parliament should pay careful attention to improve the nation’s core document.

The task force will submit its final consolidated draft for the constitutional amendments to Parliament within 2018.