In accordance with the Law on Parliamentary Election, political parties and coalitions planning to run in by-elections in Khentii Province and Songinokhairkhan District must submit their action plan and donation reports to the Mongolian National Audit Office (MNAO) by July 28.

According to Head of department at the MNAO Ya.Sambuunyam, 10 political parties and one coalition (Right Person Electorate Coalition) submitted their action plan and donation reports on time.

“Preparations for the audit have begun. The Democratic Party submitted two reports. Therefore, the MNAO sent an official letter to the relevant authorities for clarification,” he said.

He also emphasized that the parties that formed a coalition in the last parliamentary election submitted separate reports to run in the by-elections one by one.

In accordance with Article 27.10 of the Law on Parliamentary Election, it is prohibited for any party of a coalition to participate in by-elections independently, spend independently from the party’s election expense account, join another coalition, and form another coalition, as well as if the majority of coalition parties leave a coalition, it shall be considered dissolved.

Therefore, the MNAO is currently studying whether coalition parties can run in the by-elections on their own, Ya.Sambuunyam said.

A conclusion on whether a party or coalition’s report meets the requirements of the law shall be issued by the audit office at least 60 days before the polling day, by August 10, and submitted to the General Election Commission of Mongolia (GEC). If a report is rejected, parties and coalitions resubmitted within five days.

Moreover, independent candidates are required to submit their action plans by August 25. Their donation reports must include information on donations received between January and December 2020.

In accordance with the schedule of by-elections approved by the GEC, soum and district councils must form an election committee by July 29 and announce the territory and center of committees.

According to Head of the GEC’s Information, Research and Methodology Division B.Oyumaa, 59 election committees were established in Songinokhairkhan and 89 in Khentii.

D.Sumiyabazar, who was elected to Parliament from Songinokhairkhan District to Parliament, was appointed as Ulaanbaatar mayor and resigned from the legislature, while President U.Khurelsukh was elected as lawmaker from Khentii Province before becoming president. The by-elections are to be held to fill the vacant seats in Parliament.