Mongolia’s Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned on Tuesday after he lost a confidence vote in parliament, an official said. This vote followed several days of protests in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. Protesters accused the elite of benefiting from the coal mining boom. Meanwhile, ordinary people continue to struggle.

Oyun-Erdene became prime minister in 2021. However, he will stay on as caretaker until the country selects a new leader within 30 days.

Family Wealth Claims Denied

Public anger grew because some claimed that members of Oyun-Erdene’s family live beyond their means as civil servants. Nevertheless, his office denied these claims and called them a “smear.”

Corruption and Economic Worries

Mongolia, a landlocked country in northern Asia, has long battled corruption. Moreover, since Oyun-Erdene took office, Mongolia’s rank dropped in Transparency International’s corruption index. Economic problems and rising living costs have further fueled the protests.

As a result, many young people demanded Oyun-Erdene’s resignation. On the other hand, some older citizens still supported him.

Coalition Government in Power

Currently, Mongolia’s government is a coalition of three parties. This change came after the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) lost seats in last year’s election.