BATZANDAN MP: PEOPLE SHOULD INITIATE DRAFT LAWS

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A parliamentarian J.Batzandan wants to give a right to people to initiate draft laws and to submit them to the State Great Khural through the government. Mr Batzandan said it at a news conference on Tuesday. He intends to submit to parliament a draft law on the civil initiative. He underlined that his draft law is dedicated to developing of the direct democracy in Mongolia, adding that such an experience is valid in many countries. For example, Switzerland adopted in 1999 a law on the civil initiative by which people initiate bills, Spain approved the same law in 1978, Italy--in 1949 and Germany--in 1993. As reflected in the bill, the election age people are allowed to initiate draft laws or resolutions and to alter laws on specific issues, these drafts are discussed by the State Great Khural, any draft or resolutions is backed by at least five per cent of the people for being submitted to parliament. "People have been expressing positions on the Oyu tolgoi and Tavan tolgoi mines for many years, but these opinions and views always are ignored by the politicians. It means the state does not hear people," Batzandan MP said. "I want to change the practice of allowing only President, MPs and the cabinet to initiate draft laws. It is vital to develop the direct democracy in Mongolia," he went on. J.Batzandan explained that people will not initiate bills or draft resolutions that restrict or threat the independence of Mongolia, the national security, human rights and freedom. B.Khuder