Parliamentary Elections will be held in Mongolia on June 29, 2016 and campaigning is in full swing in this developing democracy. 12 political parties are competing with a total of 498 candidates. A further 69 independent candidates are also in the race.
The three largest parties are the Democratic Party with 76 approved candidates, the Mongolian People’s Party with 76 approved candidates, and the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party with 71 approved candidates.
The Democratic Party is a center-right party focused on furthering the goals of the goals of the Democratic Revolution in 1990, via the tenants of classical liberalism.
The Mongolian People’s Party was founded in 1920, and was the ruling political party during from 1921 to 1990. While founded on the principles of Communism and Marxist-Leninism, it now espouses a Social Democratic platform.
The Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party was established in 2010, and is a spin off from the Mongolian People’s Party (using the old name of the MPP from the old one party state days). Its platform is also primarily social Democracy, while it additionally seeks to grant more authority to the people, and to promote human-centered social welfare.
In preparation for election day, the government has banned the sale of alcohol on that day, in hopes of promoting sober decision making.
Police have also issued warnings that anyone caught vandalizing any political posters during the 18 day campaign period will face a fine of up to MNT 1.54 million (USD ~$790).