R.Rash, MP and member of the MPRP’s Managing Council, answers questions on the decisions taken at the party’s just-concluded General Assembly.

Apart from changing the name of the party, what were the important decisions the Assembly took?

I think it was quite a significant conference. Some people have said changing the party’s name is a trivial matter but we do not see it that way. We have returned to our origins, indicating that a broad review of our foreign and domestic policies will follow, affecting both the economy and society of Mongolia.
Party Leader S.Batbold has said our 2.7 million must carve out a niche among the world’s population of 6 billion. Former President N.Bagabandi has called for society to be rid of corruption. These are important issues.

Does GDP determine Mongolia’s development?

I do not think it does. A considerable part of the national wealth is in the hands of a few people. While two percent of the population are very rich, 38% are poor. GDP cannot be the sole development criterion.

Will some members unhappy with the party’s name being changed now try to form a new party?

Most in the party favored the name change, but it is true some elder members were opposed to it.

Why did you not favor the word “Revolutionary”?

We have had very important and successful revolutions, like the national freedom movement in 1911 and people’s revolution in 1921 but the last of these was 90 years ago. Mongolia has changed, both materially and intellectually, thanks to these revolutions. It is too honorable an idea just to be kept in a name.

How did members react to the new rules, specifically to those about cancellation of membership? 

Members realized that they have certain responsibilities in a democratic structure. My own position at the Managing Council meeting was that in certain situations we should be as strict as in a totalitarian regime to maintain discipline. The MPP’s principle is that everybody has the right to speak out when something is under discussion, but once a decision is taken by majority vote, everybody has to observe the decision.

Is the new party ideology “national democratic”?

We do not have this phrase. We discussed this in meetings before the assembly but agreed to leave out the “national” part.

Was it replaced by any other word?

We are saying we are a party of “social democracy” because the MPP is a member of the Soc Intern. This is no reflection on the merits of national democracy. The MPP believes the state should have primacy in framing and implementing social and economic policy, but it should not control people’s thinking and should not have a role in everything. The Democratic Party feels the state should be run according to the wishes of national capitalists and the common people. This is the two parties’ policy difference.

The new party symbol has a golden soyombo in a red rose. Is it right to use the state emblem for the party?

The first flag of the party had the soyombo and the great revolutionary Bodoo himself carved the soyombo design for the MPP’s first seal. Thus, the soyombo was in the MPP seal before it became the State emblem. The MPP has not usurped the soyombo from the state.

There is criticism that the Managing Council is favoring too many businessmen as delegates to the Primary Conference. Is this true?

There has been some criticism but that is the Managing Council decision. We hope the final selection will be welcome to all.