[Ben] Mon - Updates Elections

|

As stated before here and here, it was very likely in advance that former premier Nambaryn Enkhbayar of the ex-communist MPRP was to win the Mongolian elections that were convened two days ago. While the presidency is largely symbolic, Mr Enkhbyar will still have chances to make a difference. The absence of any party majority in the 76-seat Great Hural makes him an important power brokerer. The MPRP party secretary, Y. Otgonbayar, said yesterday that "this election victory will help us to implement many of the programmes that we are planning".

The resurgence of the Communists should not worry anyone. Like so many ex-communist parties in the former Eastern bloc, the Mongolian version is similarly tamed and committed to free market values, recasting itself as a reformist social democratic party.

Mongolia's UB Post, the only English-speaking weekly news outlet in Ulan Bator, only reprinted a story of the BBC but will probably have an individual analysis, soon. However, there are some interesting comments underneath the preliminary election coverage that clearly indicate the disappointment of the young and bright English-speaking fraction.

"Too much nostalgia for communism won this election. People want things handed to them for free. They're not willing to take the risk, sacrifice, or work towards a reward", or "Why do these communists always win? Why can't Mongolians choose the new and younger minds? It truly is a sad story" -- While not being representative, these remarks show that there is a discontented "wave of Western-educated young Mongolians".