Some of the party’s MPs answered questions ahead of the 7th
primary conference of the MPRP.

What is special about this primary
conference?

J. Sukhbaatar: Its main job will be setting the date and preparing for the
general assembly.

D.Ochirbat: We shall have several issues of importance to
discuss and resolve. Members of Parliament will answer questions from
delegates, and the party chief will give an important speech. We also have to
determine the date of the general assembly.

D.Damba-Ochir: There are definite issues to be resolved and
S.Batbold will give an important speech, possibly suggesting a change in the
name of the party and also adopting a new symbol. Besides, this conference sets
the date for the general assembly.

D.Baldan-Ochir: We have been debating a change of name for
almost two decades now. The main issue is to set the date of the general
assembly and also on deciding the frequency at which it will be meeting
henceforth.

Do you think the party needs a new name?

J. Sukhbaatar: I have wondered about this since the time I became a member of the
MPRP and then attended my first primary conference. The party did have a
revolutionary role in the 20th century and it played this role, leading the
country through revolutionary changes. The revolution for independence in 1911
and then again in 1921, particularly the latter, finally culminated in our national
freedom through the revolution for democracy in 1990.
We need new concepts now. The revolution must give way to democratic stabilization.
The MPRP’s future direction is likely to be determined in this conference, and
we could have a new name to match our new goal of
“Reform-leadership-development”. I think our best choice will be The Mongolian
People’s Party.

D.Ochirbat: This is not an issue for the primary conference.
Besides, our Managing Council and the MPRP Group in Parliament had a meeting
recently and wanted to retain the present name. This meeting should rather
focus on the proposed 6-point reform program. How can we forget all the crucial
revolutions in the country that our party has led in its long history? The word
Revolutionary was added to our original name MPP when it became clear the party
will have a revolutionary role to play. Even after 1990 we have not ceased to
spearhead revolutionary changes, like adopting a new Constitution and passing a
whole new set of laws.

D.Damba-Ochir: I agree with the need for a new name but
there is no hurry. We have to listen to other members’ and citizens’ opinion.

Will the party change its direction as
part of the proposed reform?

J. Sukhbaatar: I don’t expect anything radical to happen.

D.Baldan-Ochir: We shall review our successes, failures and
mistakes with care and objectivity and only then assess the needs for reform.
Our ideology remains that of democratic socialism.

The former leader of the
party, N.Enkhbayar, has opposed the move to change the name and also review the
ideology. Do you agree that he is trying to divide the party?

D.Baldan-Ochir: There is no reason to think like that. Our former President
and party leader will do no such thing, no matter what the media assume. Enkhbayar
cares about the party and is welcome to make critical comments. There can be no
progress without critical evaluation.