The DP caucus at Parliament met on Monday and discussed a protocol to establish electoral districts.

The protocol would establish 48 directly-elected parliamentary seats in 26 electoral districts. Arkhangai aimag would have two seats, Bayan-Ulgii two, Bayankhongor two, Bulgan one, Gobi-Altai one, Dornogobi and Gobisumber one, Dornod two, Dundgobi one, Zavkhan two, Umnugobi one, Uvurkhangai two, Selenge two, Sukhbaatar one, Tuv two, Khovd two, Khentii two, Khuvsgul two, Uvs two, Darkhan-Uul two, and Orkhon two.

The Khan-Uul, Bagakhangai, and Baganuur districts in the capital would become one electoral district with two seats, Chingeltei district would have two seats, Bayangol district two, and Songinokhairkhan district three.

After the meeting, DP caucus chairman Ch.Saikhanbileg spoke with our correspondent.

Q: Are the electoral districts based on population or the geographical size of the districts?

A: The election law says electoral districts and seats must be determined according to both population and territory. This is a general provision, and some new conditions apply when a district’s population changes by more than 20 percent. The establishment of electoral districts will not be changed from the 2008 election. But the number of seats will be reduced in districts that have three or four seats. Electoral districts will be established based on both the number of voters and territory size.

Q: The DP caucus previously held the position that seats should be allocated by population. Did it focus on that in the election law?

A: The DP caucus’s opinion that the number of seats should be based on population has not been included in the election law. The DP caucus members said it before passing the law and after passing it. Ulaanbaatar has 14 seats and local settlements have 34 seats. The caucus’s position is to add seats in the capital.

Q: Do you believe the Election General Committee (EGC) is capable of organizing the 2012 election?

A: The Election General Committee (EGC) has many faults in view of the requirements of its current work, and in scheduling. Specifically, it has not done a good job choosing the new voting machines. MPs noted that and asked the EGC to speed up its work. The committee should choose the latest technology, and it should responsibly work to enforce laws.

Q: There are reports that a draft law on social welfare has not been discussed because the DP caucus has rejected it. What is the reason for that?

A: The caucus viewed that the draft law on social welfare does not meet requirements. That is why a working group headed by S.Erdene is working on the draft law, which has been submitted by the Government. The DP caucus believes social welfare benefits should be directed to individuals, not to households. The monthly allowance of MNT 21,000 will end in June 2012. The working group needs to consider a policy of social welfare that will be directed toward children or vulnerable groups.