Independent MPs submit bill to amend Constitution

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Independent MPs -S.Ganbaatar, Ts.Davaasuren and Kh.Bolorchuluun-, along with G.Uyanga MP submitted a draft bill to amend the Constitution to the Government’s Cabinet on Monday. The amendments are expected to cohere up with a proposed change in the law on the Government that failed at a parliament final voting a few days ago. That draft bill amending the law on the Government (Cabinet) was to prohibit simultaneous holding of offices in the cabinet and the parliament in order to support separation of powers. Submitted by the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj, the draft bill was foreseeing resignation of nearly two third of current ministers in the Cabinet who simultaneously hold offices in the State Great Khural (parliament). During that voting, independent MPs Ts.Davaasuren and Kh.Bolorchuluun did not support the draft bill, suggesting making relevant amendments into the Constitution of Mongolia to avoid a conflict in legislation, ahead of choosing classic principles of governance. This time, the independent MPs are proposing to amend seven articles that were added to the Constitution in 2000, including that one stating ‘a member of parliament shall not hold an office except for an office of a Prime Minister and a Government member’. The Constitutional Court proved in 2000 the above article breaches relevant laws, but it has still been in force. Today, there are 16 ministries in Mongolia, where 14 ministers hold dual offices of a minister and a member of parliament. Added to these ministers, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet Minister hold offices of parliament members the same time.