Democratic Party (Mongolia)

History

Founding and early years

Main article: 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia

After the 1990 Democratic Revolution, Mongolia became a country with a multi-party system. The democratic revolution transformed Mongolia from a single-party communist state into a dynamic representative democracy. Those who pioneered the democratic revolution established political parties such as the Mongolian Democratic Party (MDP), the Mongolian National Progress Party (MNPP), and the Mongolian Social Democratic Party (MSDP) in early 1990.

The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), between the Mongolian National Democratic Party (merger of the MNPP and the MDP) and the MSDP, saw its first major victory in the 1996 election, where the dominant Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party was out of power for the first time since 1921. Despite the electoral success, the democratic government would oversee four years of rampant party infighting, unstable governance, and economic slowdown. Between 1996 and 2000, there were a total of four different governments led by the DUC.

The democratic opposition faced an electoral wipeout in the 2000 parliamentary election, winning only a single seat in the State Great Khural. Furthermore, the murder of Sanjaasürengiin Zorig, a key leader during the 1990 revolution, in October 1998 led to the breakaway of Zorig's allies and the formation of the Civil Will Party in 2000.

In the aftermath of their defeat, five political parties – including the Mongolian National Democratic Party, Mongolian Social Democratic Party, and others merged and established the Democratic Party of Mongolia on 6 December 2000.

On 1 April 2006, a party convention elected Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj as the party leader. Four candidates had run for the party leadership elections in the first round. Elbegdorj won 46% of the vote, Erdeniin Bat-Uul won 40% and two other candidates won the rest. Without an absolute majority, a second ballot between the leading candidates resulted in Elbegdorj winning with 57.2% of the votes.

On 30 August 2008, the National Consultative Committee of Democratic Party elected Norovyn Altankhuyag as the new leader of the party.

2012–2016

In the 2012 parliamentary election, the party won 34 seats in the country's 76-seat unicameral legislature, which was only a handful short of the simple majority requirement to unilaterally govern the country. As such, the party teamed up with ex-president Nambaryn Enkhbayar's Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party and their coalition partner, Mongolian National Democratic Party, to form a government under Norovyn Altankhuyag's premiership. The party's ascension to power coincided with a rapid economic boom largely attributed to the country's mining mega-projects, with The Economist dubbing the country Mine-golia.

During its first two years in power, the government introduced a number of large-scale bonds, with the most significant ones being the Chinggis Bond and the Samurai Bond to fund its ambitious infrastructure projects. Later in 2021, a parliamentary investigation into the Development Bank of Mongolia found massive mismanagement and favouritism in the loan selection process, prompting the country's anti-corruption agency to launch a full-scale investigation into Altankhuyag's involvement in the scandal.

In 2014, DP lawmakers ousted Altankhuyag from the party leadership and the premiership, partly due to his failure to reach an agreement with Rio Tinto, and appointed Chimediin Saikhanbileg in a highly controversial move. In 2015, the stagnation of the Chinese economic growth severely impacted Mongolia's economic prospects and damaged the mineral prices, which the country heavily relied on. The country went into an economic recession, with the GDP shrinking by about 1%.

In 2015, Prime Minister Saikhanbileg travelled to Dubai to finance the Oyu Tolgoi project and a struck a deal with Rio Tinto and other investors, which was colloquially named the Dubai Agreement. The investment agreement was heavily scrutinised both within and outside the party: Mongolia would not profit from the project at least until 2034. Zandaakhuugiin Enkhbold, who was the Democratic Speaker of the parliament at that time, and a handful of other Democrats condemned the move. In 2016, just a few weeks before his end of term, Saikhanbileg's government relinquished its exclusive right to purchase the 49% stake in the Erdenet mine, one of the most profitable projects in the country, when the Russian side decided to sell it – without any authorization from the parliament. Saikhanbileg hastily left the country when the country's anti-corruption agency started an investigation into him.

2016–2020

In the 2016 parliamentary election, the DP lost heavily, retaining only nine seats despite retaining 33% of the national vote. The following year, an internal congress elected Sodnomzunduin Erdene as party chairman. Under his leadership, the DP sought to reorganise its structure, strengthen its grassroots branches, and improve candidate selection processes. In 2017, the party's nominee, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, won the presidential election, giving the DP the presidency even though it remained a minority in parliament.

During Erdene’s tenure, the party positioned itself as the main opposition force, frequently criticising the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) government on issues such as economic management, transparency, and judicial independence. The DP also achieved modest gains in the 2020 local elections. However, in the 2020 parliamentary election, the party secured only 11 seats, leaving the MPP with another supermajority. Party chairman Erdene had lost his own seat in the election.

2020–2024

After the 2020 parliamentary defeat, Erdene announced he was stepping down and transferred interim roles to MP-elect Tsevegdorjyn Tuvaan, but soon re-entered the leadership dispute that followed. He argued that internal rules required a proper party congress and challenged attempts to alter nomination procedures. The party would soon split on the matter of re-nominating incumbent president Battulga for the 2021 election.

By March 2021, the party had effectively split into pro and anti-Battulga camps, each led by different chairman-elects, Odongiin Tsogtgerel and Mainbayaryn Tulgat. Neither of the two leaders was officially recognized by the Supreme Court. Therefore, the inability of the DP to unite led to two different primaries being held and two different candidates being nominated. Former chairman and PM Norovyn Altankhuyag was nominated by all 11 Democratic MPs and the Tsogtgerel-led faction, whilst Erdene was nominated by the Tulgat-led faction.

Despite divisions within the party, Erdene was formally nominated as the Democratic candidate in the 2021 presidential election, where he campaigned on a platform of democratic values, anti-corruption, and economic recovery. His nomination was accepted by the General Election Commission (GEC). The supporters of Altankhuyag's nomination protested the GEC decision, and the Democratic MPs launched hunger strikes in Sükhbaatar Square.

The period from 2021 to 2023 was marked by parallel party structures supporting either Erdene or former president Battulga. In 2022, the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of the anti-Battulga faction effectively reaffirmed Erdene’s authority until the party’s next internal congress. He remained active in promoting democratic principles, maintaining international party contacts, and preparing the organisation for the 2024 election, before handing over leadership to former Minister of Education and chairman-elect Luvsannyamyn Gantömör in early 2023.

2024–Present

In the 2024 parliamentary election, the DP gained 31 seats in the expanded parliament. The MPP gained only 6 seats and was left with a slim majority in the State Great Khural. Subsequently, on July 9, the DP, the MPP, and the smaller HUN Party formed a coalition government led by MPP chairman and then-Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene. In June 2025, during the 2025 anti-Oyun-Erdene protests, PM Oyun-Erdene resigned after losing a motion of no confidence in the State Great Khural. This led to the collapse of Oyun-Erdene's second tenure and the expulsion of the DP from the coalition government.

On 31 August 2025, Gantömör resigned as party chairman, and the party's National Policy Committee elected party caucus leader and pro-business MP Odongiin Tsogtgerel as the next chairman.

Election results

In the 2004 parliamentary elections, the party was a constituent part of the Motherland Democratic Coalition that won 44.7% of the popular vote and 34 out of 76 seats at the Parliament. Party leader Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj became the prime minister of a grand coalition government and held that position until January 2006.

In 2005 presidential election, its candidate Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan won only 19.7%, ranking second place in the four-way race.

In the 2008 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party won 28 seats out of 76 in the Parliament. After the elections, two major parties (Democratic Party of Mongolia and Mongolian People's Party) formed a coalition government. Within the government, party leader Norovyn Altankhuyag became First Deputy Prime Minister and the party keeps the seats of Finance Minister, Health Minister, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Minister of Roads, Transportation, Construction and Urban Development, and Minister of Defense.

2009 presidential election

Main article: 2009 Mongolian presidential election

At the Democratic Party's convention on 3 April 2009, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj defeated Erdeniin Bat-Üül in a contest for the party's nomination for the presidency of Mongolia in 2009. Elbegdorj won with 65.3% of the total vote. After Elbegdorj was announced as the candidate, the Civic Will Party and the Mongolian Green Party endorsed Elbegdorj's presidential candidacy.

Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj won the 2009 Mongolian presidential election on 24 May 2009 with 51.21% of the votes. Defeating incumbent president Enkhbayar who got 47.41%. Elbegdorj was sworn into office as President of Mongolia on 18 June 2009.

2012 parliamentary elections

Main article: 2012 Mongolian legislative election

In the 2012 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party won the elections and became the majority by winning 34 seats out of 76 seat in the Parliament. Party Leader Norovyn Altankhuyag became the prime minister. It formed a coalition government with the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party with majority seats at the government Cabinet belonging to the Democratic Party.

2013 presidential election

Main article: 2013 Mongolian presidential election

The Democratic Party's National Policy Committee held its convention on 7 May 2013 and decided to re-nominate Elbegdorj as a presidential candidate with 100% votes. And the Congress of Democratic Party, with 7,000 participants in Ulaanbaatar plus participants in all provincial centers connected via live internet video conference voted 100% for Elbegdorj's nomination from the Democratic Party for the 2013 presidential election on 8 May 2013. Civil Will-Green Party and Mongolian National Democratic Party – which have seats at both the parliament and the government cabinet – endorsed Elbegdorj's presidential candidacy. The Republican Party and the Motherland Party expressed their full support for Elbegdorj's candidacy also.

Elbegdorj won the 2013 presidential election on 26 June 2013 with 50.23% of total votes while opposition Mongolian People's Party's candidate Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene received 41.97%, and Natsagiin Udval, candidate of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party got 6.5% of total votes.

2016 parliamentary elections

Main article: 2016 Mongolian legislative election

In the 2016 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party lost to a landslide victory of the Mongolian People's Party, retaining only 9 of 76 seats in the Great Khural. While they just lost under 2% of the popular vote, a new electoral law passed by the Democratic Party itself when in government to promote two-party politics, together with a 14% rise of the MPP, ended up making them lose 25 of 34 seats.

2017 presidential election

Main article: 2017 Mongolian presidential election

The Democratic Party's candidate Khaltmaagiin Battulga narrowly won the second round of the 2017 presidential election.

2020 parliamentary election

Main article: 2020 Mongolian legislative election

In June 2020, DP got only 11 seats of the 76 seats. Ruling MPP won a landslide victory in the election.

2021 presidential election

Main article: 2021 Mongolian presidential election

In the 2021 presidential election, DP fell to the third place with only 6.37% of the popular vote and thus lost the presidency. The MPP secured a landslide victory with 72.02% of the popular vote. The social democratic Right Person Electorate Coalition (RPEC) finished second.

In early 2022, DP selected ex-president Khaltmaagiin Battulga as its new chairman, but due to the party's internal division his selection was challenged and Battulga's official filing with the Supreme Court was stalled.

Leaders

• Dambyn Dorligjav (2000–2002)
• Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan (2002–2005)
• Radnaasümbereliin Gonchigdorj (2005–2006)
• Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (2006–2008)
• Norovyn Altankhuyag (2008–2014)
• Zandaakhuugiin Enkhbold (2014–2016)
• Sodnomzunduin Erdene (2016–2023)
• Luvsannyamyn Gantömör (2023–2025)
• Odongiin Tsogtgerel (2025–present)

Organisation

The party is organised on national, provincial, municipal, and district levels. Currently, the party has around 30 provincial party associations and 432 grassroots organisations.

• National Convention (NC): Each provincial association sends delegates to the National Convention, which is held every 4 years.
• National Policy Committee (NPC): No more than two times a year, NPC is organised, and there are 228 members of NPC.

Affiliated organisations

The Democratic Party has the following affiliated groups and organisations.

• Democratic Youth Union
• Democratic Women's Union
• Democratic Elders' Union

Electoral history

Presidential elections

State Great Khural elections

Notes

References

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