Bayar Becomes Prime Minister of Mongolia
{mosimage}Attention Shifts to Cabinet Formation
UPDATE: The Parliament's session today approved the President N.Enkhbayar's request to appoint S.Bayar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. 97.1 percent of the 69 members, who were present, backed Bayar and two members, Z.Enkhbold and B.Batbaatar were against him.
Attention Shifts to Cabinet Formation
UPDATE: The Parliament's session today approved the President N.Enkhbayar's request to appoint S.Bayar as the Prime Minister of Mongolia. 97.1 percent of the 69 members, who were present, backed Bayar and two members, Z.Enkhbold and B.Batbaatar were against him.
THE Standing Committee on State Structures unanimously approved on Wednesday the nomination of S.Bayar, Chairman of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP), the dominant partner in the ruling coalition, to take over as Prime Minister of Mongolia. Bayar’s approval by Parliament today (Thursday) is a foregone conclusion.
The man who will be the country’s 24th Prime Minster is still not ready with his cabinet. The present government, formed after the Parliamentary election of 2004, has 13 ministers. Some are expected to keep their position while some others are likely to be chopped. Speculation is rife but no one really knows who is in and who will be out.
The man Bayar replaces, current acting Prime Minister M.Enkhbold, has already been asked to remain in the cabinet. Indications are that he will be made Deputy Premier. This will be in keeping with his stature as also an acknowledgement that he still has a sizable following in the party which recently voted to replace him with Bayar.
The MPRP’s appeal to all parties in Parliament to cooperate in the formation of the new government has received a positive response from all but the Democratic Party. The main opposition force has said it is the job of the ruling coalition to form its own government without seeking other parties’ help. Some smaller parties have indicated their strong interest in getting at least one ministerial berth in the new government, which is expected to hold power until next year’s parliament election.
The current government includes, besides MPRP Ministers, representatives from the National New Party, the Motherland Party, and the Republican Party. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, which was held by the Republican Party in the last two governments, may this time go to Kh.Narankhuu of the MPRP, who is also Executive Director of the Mongolian-Russian Erdenet Joint Venture. Republican Party Chairman B.Jargalsaikhan was, however, confident about retaining the ministry for his party, expressong his conviction that the MPRP “has no choice; it must cooperate with us”.
The Ministry of Defense, led by non-army men in recent years, may this time have an army officer at its helm. Lt.Gen. Ts.Togoo, Chief of the General Staff of Mongolian Armed Forces, is likely to be Bayar’s choice.
Two members of the acting cabinet, D.Demberel and O.Enkhtuvshin, ministers of labor and education respectively, may retain their place while the ministry of finance may see the return of an old head, MP Ch.Ulaan.
Changes are likely in the Government’s implementing and monitoring agencies also. These will include the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, the General Taxation Office, and the General Police Department.
Written by Ch.Sumiyabazar
Photo by T.Chimgee
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