N.Nomtoibayar ‘ousted’ from MPP, resigns from Parliament
On January 29, Head of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) Oversight Committee D.Batbaatar commented on the committee’s decision that N.Nomtoibayar is now to be “considered as removed from MPP.”
D.Batbaatar stated the reason for this decision was due to N.Nomtoibayar’s physical altercation with Kh.Taivan in a restaurant in late December 2019. Kh.Taivan is the son of B.Khurts, former Head of the General Intelligence Agency of Mongolia. N.Nomtoibayar later admitted to his involvement in this incident.
D.Batbaatar said the committee made this decision as a form of disciplinary action against N.Nomtoibayar from MPP for his repeated transgressions in public while representing the party. He clarified that the party has no ill will against the Parliament member, and he is welcome to return to the party at a later date. After Thursday’s closed Parliament session, N.Nomtoibayar apologized to his fellow party members and stated that he agrees with the party’s decision.
On Thursday, the aforementioned Parliament session discussed whether to strip N.Nomtoibayar’s parliamentary immunity from criminal and civil prosecution in a closed session. In the past weeks, the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Immunity agreed to strip him of this immunity, while subsequent decisions by the Standing Committee on Law and Standing Committee on State Structure decided not to remove his parliamentary immunity.
The Prosecutor General submitted a request to remove N.Nomtoibayar’s immunity to the Subcommittee on Parliamentary Immunity for disrupting a criminal investigation and disclosing state secrets. N.Nomtoibayar has previously stated that he is becoming a victim of a “united front” of political powers working against him.
On Thursday evening, Parliament voted to strip him of his parliamentary immunity, with 30 of the 48 attending members voting in favor through a secret ballot. However, the Parliament decree to officiate this decision was not supported by the majority of Parliament members, essentially negating the previous decision made through the secret vote. Amidst this confusion, N.Nomtoibayar announced that he will resign as a Parliament member during a Parliament session break, and said he has submitted this request to Parliament.
The Standing Committee on State Structure immediately convened, and approved his request and submitted their decision to Parliament, which then proceeded to receive the standing committee’s decision to relieve N.Nomtoibayar from his position of Parliament member.
In an post-session interview, N.Nomtoibayar elaborated both on the Parliament decision and the situation with his political party.
Regarding his parliamentary immunity, he said that a “difficult situation” arose.
“On December 12, I held a press conference on the third floor in the western wing [of the State Palace]. It is my approach to work that I do not run away from you (journalists) in the State Palace, I stand and answer your questions. The question of my parliamentary immunity is directly connected with this press conference. They are saying I’ve disclosed state secrets and disrupted an investigation. One must be extremely careful of what he says. As for the Parliament decision, there is a conflict with what they decided. The decree ‘fell’. It means once there is a decision, it is officiated with a Parliament decree. The decree was not approved, with a 35:65 ratio. Currently, there is an organized effort to strip me of my position as a Parliament member in the name of disrupting an investigation by authorities, and spreading such idea among the populace. There is no such thing, however. Just now in this Parliament session, I have expressed my intention to resign from my post, and this is my official statement to you, as well.”
As to the reason for his own resignation, he said, “I have no reason. There is no external pressure on my part. I will find and deal with this organized campaign against me. I think this (the resignation) will become a part of my fight.”
The lawmaker states he had in fact made this decision some time ago.
He also notes that his situation has come to this because the public is not being informed by authorities where it is necessary, which MP Ts.Nyamdorj agreed with. N.Nomtoibayar expresses doubt on his run for 2020 parliamentary elections, saying, “Politics is a team work. One man can’t do it alone.”