Working group established by the Standing Committee on Government Organization is working on the innovation of Parliament election system. It is discussing to change the majority system which has been used since 1992 to full proportional system. Furthermore, the women quotas are being discussed. But the party groups haven’t yet reached an agreement on the issue. MPRP is supporting the majority system of 76 constituencies. DP on the other hand thinks proportional system is best suited. But the MPs say State Constitution needs to be amended in order to change the election system. 

MP L.Gundalai says DP is keener to implement the proportional system because majority system chooses the one with the most money. 

“Money spending in 2000 and 2004 election campaign was relatively low. But lately, there are many rich people who are willing to compete in election after raising funds by selling mineral deposits and from government money. Parliament is about to be filled with oligarchs. Proportional system decreases the probability of rich to be elected. MPs would stop trying to take state budget money to their constituencies. Investments will be on the right tracks” says the MP.

He also believes that there would be a professionalized Parliament if the elections followed the proportional system from the beginning. 

“Parliament is a place where only rich sit. We need to stop it now. Otherwise, the polity, Mongolian government may fall because of the majority system. Proportional system is more necessary inMongolia which shares the proportions by the votes given for the political parties. There are defects in any systems. It does not matter. Today, the election of the Parliament turned into election of names. Related reference in the State Constitution must be changed” L.Gundalai added.

“MPRP is supporting the majority system. This means more individual interest rather than the interest of the nation. Women quotas will be supported if the proportional system is adopted. Today, it is becoming harder for women to be elected. This Parliament has only three women. Maybe the no women will be elected from 2012 elections. If the fight for constituencies is erased, probability of women victors will be 30 percent”

MP D.Baldan-Ochir of the MPRP on the other hand said the majority system will be followed if it is decided that it is not necessary to amend the Parliament Election Law.

“State Constitution must be changed. But such amendments in the constitution must be done very carefully because there are risks of social instability. There must be a special mechanism or law in case of making amendments in State Constitution. Without this, no one can touch the constitution whenever he wants. Laws regarding political parties also need to be changed. There are 7 or 8 MPs who were elected from the first parliament election 20 years ago. I was 25 years old when I was first elected. Twenty years seem to be a lot for human lives, but it is a blink of an eye for a social lifetime” said D.Baldan-Ochir. 

He said that majority system is likely to be kept because the Constitutional Court may not approve of making amendments in the State Constitution. 

“Previous elections had their own significances. In 1990, candidates gave rare products like soap and grains. Starting 2000, the candidates began distributing money. But this is not an issue of changing the election system. People are now beginning to know the meaning of polity. Starting 1990, the MPRP changed and many political parties were established. Political party finds its foothold after 40-50 years. Personnel, policies, procedures and programs all improve during this time. Thus, it is early to talk about amending the election law” 

MP D.Baldan-Ochir stated that he has different opinions about women quotas.

“The law should not state that 20-30 percent of the candidates must be women. More than 60-70 percent of university students are women now. When their time comes, there is no denying that women would take charge of Mongolian polity” added the MP. 

“There are many good things about women, mothers because they don’t use alcohol, cigarettes as well as they are hardworking and don’t get plunged external influences. Gender is not an issue about women. It is about the balance. Thus, I don’t think quotas are necessary”