Mongolia Eyes to Change its Electoral Rules ahead of 2020 Elections

Mongolia's ruling party (MPP) proposed to change from the current winner-takes-all electoral system to the party-list proportional system. Mongolian People's Party hopes to allow lawmakers to spend more time on big-picture and long-term national priorities rather than constituency specific matters. Different types of proportional representation are under consideration. Some Members of Parliament warned that the link between representatives and their constituents could be broken.

Mongolia tried a mixed proportional system in the 2012 elections, which produced a coalition government. The rule was criticised for creating political instability and was abandoned in 2015. It also gave more power to political party bosses to decide the list of candidates to be elected and distribute seats after the election.

According to a study the party-list electoral system usually produces coalition governments as no party wins a clear majority. And coalition governments if successful may lead to more long-term policy stability due to consensus building efforts and participatory decision-making process bringing wider benefits to the society. 

The latest survey showed no party enjoys majority support in Mongolia.

Sign up to Mongolia Weekly to get top political stories every week.

#MongoliaWeekly #MongoliaPolitics #MongolianElection #MongoliaNews