In a swift political upheaval, Mongolian lawmakers on Friday, October 17, 2025, removed Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar from office after a mere four-month tenure. This decisive vote came in the wake of significant youth-led protests that have gripped the nation.
The dismissal of Zandanshatar was approved by a majority of parliamentarians, capping off weeks of intense political strife. A key point of contention was a controversial new policy concerning the taxation of mineral exporters, which sparked widespread debate.
The 55-year-old Prime Minister had only assumed his role in June, stepping in after thousands of young citizens took to the streets of Ulaanbaatar. Their demonstrations voiced deep-seated frustration with the country’s affluent elite, rampant corruption, and perceived systemic injustice.
These protests initially led to calls for the resignation of the previous prime minister, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, who subsequently lost a confidence vote, paving the way for Zandanshatar.
Despite being a nation rich in natural resources like coal, gas, and various minerals, Mongolia, which shares a border with China, is grappling with a potent mix of political challenges.
The country is currently navigating a tumultuous period marked by widespread corruption, escalating living costs, and significant economic anxieties.
Zandanshatar is set to serve as caretaker prime minister for up to 30 days until a successor is officially appointed. His brief time in office was marred by sharp criticism, particularly from members of his own ruling Mongolian People’s Party, over a contentious overhaul of the nation’s minerals policy.
The new policy, effective this month, mandated that mineral exporters would pay royalties based on domestic stock prices, a departure from the international benchmarks that had been in use since 2021. Lawmakers had voiced concerns that this shift could negatively impact the national budget.
Further compounding his troubles, Zandanshatar also faced censure for appointing a justice minister without proper parliamentary notification, an act lawmakers deemed unlawful.
Ultimately, the parliamentary vote saw 71 members vote in favor of his removal, with three-quarters of the chamber present for the proceedings.