Late last year, the Executive Committee of the Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) decided to dismiss Su.Batbold, Mayor of Ulaanbaatar from the post before his term ends in two years; as a result the capital has been without a mayor for over a month. On 16 January, the Citizens’ Representative Khural (Council) of Ulaanbaatar elected an independent candidate, S.Munkhchuluun, to the post.  S.Munkhchuluun won 24 votes form 43 members in the second round of voting defeating S.Amarsaikhan who had been nominated by the Executive Committee of the MPP.

Before he officially takes over responsibility for running Ulaanbaatar, S.Munkhchuluun needs to be approved by the Mongolian Prime Minister.