Ulaanbaatar
Draft amendments to Constitution submitted
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Draft law on making amendments to the Constitution of Mongolia was presented to the Chairman of the State Great Khural (Parliament) Z.Enkhbold by the head of working group for developing amendments to the Constitution N.Batbayar MP, last Friday.
The current Constitution was adopted on January 13 of 1992, and was amended on December 14 of 2000. First amendments to seven articles have been facing some serious criticisms.
“Issues have risen as the country’s development advances that require new management over the interaction, coordination and pro-action between the state powers and authorities”, said N.Batbayar MP.
The draft suggests increasing the number of Parliament members from 76 to 99, lengthening the term for Cabinet and Parliament from four years to five years and the term for President to four years to six years.
It also proposes to exclude political parties’ participation from the elected posts in citizens’ representatives khurals, and to involve Cabinet in the processes of forming Constitutional Court and appointing Prosecutor-General. Also, other changes were proposed through the draft in order to reduce duplications of responsibilities.
If adopted, the Constitution would regulate that President shall not be elected by the citizens, and shall be appointed by Parliament.
This draft has been supported by 47 MPs or 61.8 percent of parliament, comprising representatives from the Democratic Party, Mongolian People’s Party, Civil Will and Green Party, Justice coalition and independent MPs.
Moreover, a national referendum will be held prior to discussion at the plenary session of the Parliament and it is cited in the draft amendments to hold the national referendum on November 26, the date when Mongolia's first constitution was adopted in 1924.
In case the draft amendments to Constitution are publicly approved, this Parliament will be likely to disband before the term ends, leading to early parliamentary election.
