1990 Mongolian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in the Mongolian People's Republic in July 1990. The People's Grand Khural was elected on 22 July 1990, with a second round on 29 July, at which time the State Little Khural, the new second chamber, was also elected.^[1] Fifty deputies from the upper house, the People's Grand Khural, were elected to the lower house, the standing legislature, via proportional representation of the party vote.^[2]

Held in the aftermath of the peaceful 1990 revolution, they were the first democratic elections in Mongolia's history.^[3]

In 1989, the Mongolian People's Republic witnessed a series of demonstrations against the government by the coalition group, the Mongolian Democratic Union (MDU), formed on 10 December of that year by intellectuals influenced by similar movements in Eastern Europe.^[4] Jambyn Batmönkh promised reform to placate the growing demonstrations and met with the MDU leaders, although Dumaagiin Sodnom and other leading Politburo members felt that a gradual five-year plan for reforms could be undertaken.^[5] Demonstrations continued, however, with Batmönkh announcing his resignation on 4 March 1990, followed by the rest of the Politburo eight days later.^[5] Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat became Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Khural (head of state) with Sharavyn Gungaadorj appointed as Chairman of the Council of Ministers (head of government), although it was agreed that the khural would meet again in May to discuss constitutional change, making these appointments temporary.^[5]

The demonstrations continued, however, (largely as a consequence of the lack of funding and media access for the newly formed opposition parties in contrast to the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party), and the Mongolian People's Army was used against the demonstrators in April.^[6] Meetings were held with the opposition on April 30, and free elections to the legislature were agreed on May 14.^[6]

The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) registered as a political party on May 24, and others followed suit, including the Mongolian Democratic Party, the Mongolian Green Party, the Mongolian National Progress Party, and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party.^[7] However, the MPRP soon took the lead by promising to cancel some debts, lower the cost of heating, and provide higher wages for the poor and students. They combined this with the removal of their links to the security forces and army in order to prevent a threatened opposition boycott.^[6]

Primary elections were held on June 25, with 2,400 candidates put forward to chase 799 available full candidatures for the Great Khural's 430 seats. Ultimately, around 100 opposition candidates advanced, with the system criticized for favouring rural areas where the MPRP was strongest.^[6]

The MPRP took 60% of the vote but won 358 seats (86%), with the opposition only managing 14% of the seats despite winning 40% of the vote. Due to election irregularities, 28 seats were held up.^[8] As a consequence of the results, Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat was confirmed as President whilst Dashiin Byambasüren was appointed as Prime Minister. Radnaasümbereliin Gonchigdorj, leader of the Mongolian Social Democratic Party, was appointed Vice President (also the Chairman of the State Little Khural) as part of an effort by the MPRP to cooperate with the opposition.^[9] Davaadorjiin Ganbold, a prominent economist and the leader of the Mongolian National Progress Party, was appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister.^[10]