Mongolian People's Party

Mongolian People's Party Монгол Ардын Нам Mongol Ardiin Nam
Chairman	Sükhbaataryn Batbold
Founded	March 1, 1921
Headquarters	Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Membership  (as of February 2011)	163,805
Ideology	Social democracy
Political position	Centre-left
International affiliation	Socialist International
Official colors	Red and Blue
State Great Khural	46 / 76
Website
http://mpp.mn
Politics of Mongolia Political parties Elections formerly known as the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party Монгол Ардын Хувьсгалт Нам (1924-2010)

The Mongolian People's Party (Mongolian: Монгол Ардын Нам, Mongol Ardiin Nam), formerly the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (Mongolian: Монгол Ардын Хувьсгалт Нам, Mongol Ardyn Khuvsgalt Nam, МАХН, MAKHN) is the oldest political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPP in English and МАН (MAN) in (transliterated) Mongolian. The party in 2010 reverted to its original name by dropping the word 'Revolutionary'^[1]

The MPP was the ruling party of Mongolia from 1921 until 1996 (with no other political parties allowed until 1990), and from 2000 until 2004. Since 2006, it has been the leading force in two coalition governments. The incumbent prime minister, Sükhbaataryn Batbold, is from the MPP. Additionally, MPRP-backed candidates have won several presidential elections.

History

Background

In 1911, Mongolia had declared its independence from the Qing dynasty after over two centuries of foreign rule. Unfortunately, this new independence under the Bogd Khan did not last, not being recognized as independent by its two neighbors, only being granted autonomous status under Chinese rule. In 1919, Mongolia was invaded by the Chinese Beiyang Government and in turn by White Russian forces in 1921.

1921 revolution

During this occupation period, two groups, known as the "Consular Hill" (Konsulyn denj) and East Khuree (Züün khüree) formed as resistance movements. On June 25, 1920, these two groups united to form a "Mongolian People's Party", and decided to send seven representatives to the Soviet Russia. In August, they met with Soviet representatives in Irkutsk. On March 1, 1921, the party officially formed as a political party, claimed to be the first in Mongolia, in Kyakhta and formed a provisional government.

The conceptual foundation of the party was formulated as follows:

"The Mongolian People’s Party will aim to eliminate all brutal enemies harmful to the state and the religion; to re-gain the lost rights; to vigorously enhance the state and the religion; to regard the deeds for the sake of poor and vulnerable people as the supreme mission; to uphold long-lasting nature of internal affairs; and to create a living free from dangers of being oppressed and oppressing others."

On March 18, a Mongolian People's Army under Damdin Sükhbaatar defeated Chinese forces and took Kyakhta. In May, the White Russian Baron Ungern took his forces north from Ikh Khuree and were defeated by joint Mongolian People's Army and Red Army forces.On 25th June, 1921, the Mongolian People’s Party issued a statement addressed to all Mongolians, which informed about its decision to liberate Capital city through military force. The forces entered the capital in July 6 and finally declared independence on July 11, 1921.

The party renamed itself the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party in 1924 upon the advice of the Communist International.

Armed uprising and Purges

In 1928, Mongolian politics took a sharp leftward turn, beginning to adhere to communist ideology. Herds were forcibly collectivized, private trade and transport forbidden, and monasteries and the nobility came under attack. With the now state-run trade and transport unable to function, it led to a economic breakdown with more than 7 million heads of livestock dead, and to widespread unrest and uprisings in 1932. The uprising was quelled in October 1932, after the Mongolian and Soviet armies, tanks and planes had been involved.

The 1933, the first wave of purges began with the Lkhümbe Affair, a manufactured conspiracy linking Party Secretary Jambyn Lkhümbe with Japanese spying networks. Over 1500 people were implicated in the purge, many of them being executed. The victims included Prime Minister Peljidiin Genden who was enthusiastic in the liberalised development of the economy. In 1936, Genden was removed from power and executed in the USSR. Khorloogiin Choibalsan, a strong ally of Joseph Stalin, gained power.

Between 1937 and 1939, a second wave of purges began, with 25437 people officially arrested, of which 20099 were executed. Some estimates place the number of victims from over 35000 to 100000. Of the implicated over 18000 were lamas, resulting in the virtual destruction of the Buddhist clergy. Between 1940 and 1955, purges were conducted against those who were complicit in the previous purges.

During Choibalsan's rule considerable improvements in the country's infrastructure, roads and communication lines were made with Soviet assistance, and steps were taken toward improving the country's literacy rate.

In December 1947, 11th Congress of the Party was held, approving the first 5 year plan of the country with the objectives to intensify the development of the economy, industries, animal husbandry and agriculture through a series of stages.

Communist leaders in 1949: Mao Zedong, Nikolai Bulganin, Joseph Stalin, Walter Ulbricht, and Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal

In 1952, Khorloogiin Choibalsan died, with Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal gaining power. He successfully purged his political rivals: Dashiin Damba in 1958-59, Daramyn Tömör-Ochir in 1962, Luvsantserengiin Tsend in 1963, and the so-called Lookhuuz-Nyambuu-Surmaajav "anti-party froup in December 1964. His foreign policy was marked by efforts not only to bring Mongolia into ever closer cooperation with the USSR but also aggressive attempts to incorporate Mongolia into the Soviet Union. Tsedenbal's attempts to bring Mongolia into Soviet Union and make it the 16th Republic of the Soviet Union met strong opposition from other patriotic politicians and Tsedenbal was accused of treachery. At the time of the Sino-Soviet split, Tsedenbal decisively sided with the Soviet Union and incurred China's wrath. Tsedenbal is remembered for successfully maintaining a path of moderate socialism during the Cold War.

After democratic revolution of 1991

In August 1984, Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal was forced into retirement in a Soviet-sponsored move, allegedly on the account of his old age and mental weakness. After Jambyn Batmönkh took power, he started to implement reforms mirroring Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost. Nevertheless, pro-democracy movements formed and took to the streets, demanding multi-party elections. In March 1990 the first democratic alliance, called Ardchilsan Kholboo, launched a hunger strike urging that the communists resign.

In March 1990, the politburo resigned and paved the way for democratic elections that were to take place later that year. Behind the scenes, however, the Party had seriously considered cracking down on the protesters, writing a decree that was left to be signed by the party leader Jambyn Batmönkh. Batmönkh opposed it, maintaining a strict policy of never using force (Mongolian: Хэрхэвч Хүч хэрэглэж болохгүй).

In the elections of 1990, parties had run for 430 seats in the Great Khural. Opposition parties had been unable to nominate enough candidates. The MPRP won 357 seats in the Great Khural, won a majority in the Small Khural as well (which was later to be aboished), winning 31 out of 53. Nonetheless, the new MPRP government under Dashiin Byambasüren shared power with the democrats, and implemented constitutional and economic reforms, with a new constitution being adopted in 1992. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had until 1990 provided significant economic aid to Mongolia's state budget, the country experienced harsh economic problems. In the 1993 Mongolian presidential elections, the MPRP was defeated for the first time in its history, with the candidate backed by the democratic parties, Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat, winning with two thirds of the vote.

In 1996, the Democratic Union won the legislative elections for the first time. In 2000, 2004, and 2008, the MPRP won the legislative elections and was the ruling party between these periods. It has formed 2 coalition governments with Democratic party in 2000-2004 and in 2008.

Former MPRP headquarters

The 2008 elections were especially controversial, with the MPRP being accused of vote rigging. Protests against the results turned violent on July 1, and the ensuing riots killed five people. The scene of the riots was the MPRP headquarters, which was burnt out. Following the riots, a five-day state of emergency was declared, the first time in Mongolia. With the situation tense, the MPRP decided to admit the Democratic Party into government, forming a coalition. In 2009, the democratic party candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj won the presidential elections.

With its headquarters burnt, the building was torn down and a new headquarters was built in its place (named the Independence Palace, Mongolian: Тусгаар тогтнолын ордон), which opened in 2012.

In January 2012, Democratic Party made a decision to leave the coalition government before upcoming elections. The incumbent prime minister, Sükhbaataryn Batbold, is from the MPP.

Since 2003 the party has been a member of Socialist International.

Name restoration and split

The former logo of the "Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party", later adopted by split party

The matter of restoring the name of the party to the "Mongolian People’s Party" had been at the core of discussions among the party members and during the Party Congresses since 1990. In 2010, the matter of restoring the original name of the party was extensively deliberated at all levels of party organizations, resulting on 81.3% of all members fully supporting the restoration of the original name of "Mongolian People’s Party", and 10.7% of members reckoning to deliberate this matter during the 26th Party Congress.

The decision to restore the original name of the party was approved by 99.3% of the delegates of the 26th Congress of the Mongolian People’s Party. Other important decision made by 26th Congress was the reformulation of Party’s political ideology from democratic socialism to social democracy.

However, this name change was not supported by all members, who created a new Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, headed by the former MPP leader and president of Mongolia, Nambaryn Enkhbayar. The party was approved by the supreme court on June 24, 2011^[2]

List of Leaders

• Soliin Danzan 1921
• Ajvaagiin Danzan 1922-1924
• Tseren-Ochiriin Dambadorj 1924-1928
• Bat-Ochiriin Eldev-ochir 1928-1930
• Peljidiin Genden 1928-1932
• Dargijaviin Luvsansharav 1932-1939
• Banzarjaviin Baasanjav 1936-1939
• Yumjaagiin Tsedenbal 1940-1954,1958-1984
• Dashiin Damba 1954-1958
• Jambyn Batmönkh 1985-1990
• Gombojavyn Ochirbat 1990-1991
• Budragchaagyn Dash-Yondon 1991-1996
• Natsagyn Bagabandi February 1997-June 1997
• Nambaryn Enkhbayar 1997-2005
• Miyegombiin Enkhbold 2005-2007
• Sanjaagiin Bayar 2007-2009
• Sükhbaataryn Batbold 2010-present

See also

• Politics of Mongolia
• List of political parties in Mongolia

References

External links

Wikinews has related news: State of emergency declared in Mongolia after violent protests, five people killed

• Official website

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