This month’s rotational election to the National Consulting Council of the Democratic Party will indicate the specific nature of the alignment of forces inside the junior partner in the coalition government. The party came into being when many disparate groupings and movements came together and this is why the party has always had several broad factions fighting among themselves for dominance. The periodic election of a section of members of the council indicates which way the wind blows. It is also important because the faction in power will be able to choose more of its own as candidates at the next election to Parliament.

Every candidate to the present election has to deposit MNT1 million. Most of them find a sponsor, and thus begins with a debt. Once in the NCC, they will make similar deals to gain the support of members in the provinces. This will be the order of the day no matter which of the two factions prevails — the Altangadas or the Mongolian Democratic Union. The former now has the edge but MDU is determined to regain its lost power.

The ensuing general meeting of the Union of Democratic Forces, a newly formed organization of DP members, will be watched with interest as the group is perceived as a platform for all disgruntled forces in the party. Its slogan “Let’s create a new Mongolia” can be seen as actually calling for a new DP.

Some 800 people will attend the meeting, most of them from the MDU, or the old Mongolian Democratic Party and the old Mongolian National Progressive Party. The Altangadas faction, to which most of the party’s Ministers belong, will be keeping a close watch on how the meeting goes. Those who opposed forming the coalition Government with MPRP are supporting the Union. MPs vocal in that opposition are its leaders: Z.Enkhbold, N.Batbayar, S.Erdene, R.Amarjargal, D.Gankhuyag, G.Bayarsaikhan and D.Odkhuu. Many believe President Ts.Elbegdorj is behind them.

There is little doubt that there will be a lot of criticism of the Government at the meeting. It will fault the Oyu Tolgoi agreement which is beginning to show defects and will criticize the decision to distribute MNT 70,000 to citizens. Members of the Union would prefer the DP to be a strong opposition force in Parliament and are wary that the MPRP would blame the DP in the end for all failures of the Government. Some MPRP members have actually begun to blame DP MPs for many things.

Where is the next generation of DP leadership? This seems to be more of a problem here than for the MPRP. The only young MPs of note are L.Gantumur, G.Bayarsaikhan and Kyokushyuzan D.Batbayar. Former MPs B.Batbaatar and R.Erdeneburen are also in the reckoning. For long a few senior leaders have played musical chair to grab the top spot. The factions they lead have not thrown up new faces.