Parliament
took up for discussion on Friday a draft law proposed by Ch.Saikhanbileg and
Su.Batbold to amendments the law on parliamentary procedure. Earlier MPs had rejected
a similar draft proposed by the President, with Ts.Nyamdorj saying, “The President
is trying to become the 77^th member of Parliament.” J.Sukhbaatar
said the President has the right to attend Parliament sessions “but he should not
get involved in its internal affairs”. 

The
MPs’ draft proposes that during discussion of draft laws in a plenum session of
Parliament the right to ask questions will be restricted to five members each from
the parties in the ruling coalition groups, one member each from parties in
opposition, and independently elected MPs. The parties will have to submit
beforehand the names of those who will ask questions.

Many
MPs were not enthusiastic. D.Zagdjav said MPs are elected by the people to
represent them and there can be no restriction on their right to speak and ask
questions. L.Gundalai felt better laws will be adopted only if more MPs gave
inputs. “If parties make all the decisions, why have members of Parliament?” he
asked. S.Erdene said, “The media cover the chairmen of the two party groups
extensively. D.Lundeejantsan pops up whenever I turn on the TV or Ch.Saikhanbileg
comes out when I open my refrigerator. 
Members of government are also very much in the news. Where will MPs express
their views if their rights to speak in Parliament is now curbed?”

A.Tleihan
urged Parliament to have its own TV channel and newspaper as the media are
selective in their coverage, showing some MPs only from behind. This happens as
the position of news cameramen in Parliament is fixed.

Among
those who supported the draft, Kh.Badelkhan said some restrictions are
necessary for improved functioning as “certain MPs try to talk as if they have
special priviliges”. D.Lundeejantsan said the draft will benefit the Democratic
Party most, as with fewer members it will have the same number of speakers.

A
vote was taken and 65.1 percent of MPs favored sending the draft to the
Standing Committee on the Structure of State Organizations for further
discussion.