Earlier today, 9 November, the Mongolian State Great Khural (parliament) overruled the Presidential veto on the 2017 budget amendment. A total of 85 percent of the MP’s present in the chamber backed the decision of the two standing committees to reject the veto. President Kh.Battulga fully vetoed amendments to the bills on the 2017 State Budget and the Social Insurance Fund  which had been approved by parliament.

President Battulga said: “MNT 55 billion is a huge sum and it should be spent on job creation and building kindergartens and schools.”  He also said the Mongolian National Security Council will meet under closed regime before the end of this year’s session of the State Great Khural.

The amendments passed by the Mongolian People’s Party, which dominates the legislature, have increased the 2017 State Budget and Social Insurance Fund; this is the result of the planned distribution of a single-benefit grant worth MNT 300,000 to public servants. At a plenary meeting of the State Great Khural on 26 October, MP’s approved the amendment to the 2017 State Budget bill.