Without doubt, the hottest political topic in Mongolia at present is that regarding the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Fund, which has been operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Light Industry. The fund has allegedly been misused to the tune of millions of dollars through cronyism.  About 20 days ago, the first reports were made public that some members of the parliament and the government and their relatives obtained loans with low interest rates from the fund. The first head to roll was that of the Minister of Agriculture and Light Industry, whose wife had allegedly received such a loan.

In the State Great Khural, the ruling  Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), is clearly trying to contain the fallout from the SME Fund scandal.

The leader of the parliamentary fraction of the MPP, D.Khayankhyarvaa has been dismissed from his post after he demanded that lawmakers who allegedly obtained low-interest loans from the SME Fund be brought to justice. To fill the vacant post, the MPP Executive Committee elected D.Togtokhsuren as leader of parliamentary fraction on Thursday.

D.Togtokhsuren, former governor of Uvurkhangai province, has served as a member of parliament since 2016.