Mongolian lawmakers ousted the country’s prime minister on Friday, October 17, just four months after he took office in the wake of youth-led protests. The country is facing a combustive political cocktail of widespread corruption, rising living costs and concerns over the economy.

Gombojav Zandanshatar, 55, took office in June after thousands of young people demonstrated in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, venting frustration at wealthy elites and what they saw as pervasive corruption and injustice. They called for then-prime minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene to step down and got their wish when he lost a confidence vote.

A majority of parliamentarians voted to dismiss Zandanshatar following weeks of political infighting and a dispute over a policy that changed how mineral exporters are taxed. Zandanshatar will stay on as a caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed within 30 days.

Contested minerals policy

He had faced criticism from lawmakers in his own ruling Mongolian People’s Party over a major shift in minerals policy. Mongolia, which neighbours China, is rich in natural resources such as coal, gas and minerals.

Starting this month, exporters were due to pay royalties based on domestic stock prices, rather than international benchmarks used since 2021, which lawmakers warned could hurt the national budget.

He had also drew fire for appointing a justice minister without notifying parliament, which lawmakers said was unlawful.

On Friday, 71 members of parliament voted to remove Zandanshatar with three-quarters of the chamber in attendance.