The head of the DP group in Parliament, Ch.Saikhanbileg,
has announced his group’s support to the MPP group’s suggestion to hold a
national referendum on the draft election law. The referendum is planned to be
held on the last Sunday of September, so that its results are known before the
Autumn session of Parliament begins on October 3. Saikhanbileg said the
proposed referendum will also cover amendments to the Constitution.

The proposal for referendum is likely to be placed before
Parliament next week and will need the support of two thirds of MPs to be
passed. A referendum will require the same amount of money as a parliamentary
election. If Parliament approves the proposal it will be the second referendum
in modern times in Mongolia. The first was in 1945 when Mongolians voted for
independence.