2004 Mongolian parliamentary election

In the previous parliamentary elections in 2000, the MPRP won 72 of the 76 seats in the State Great Khural. The opposition Democratic Union, comprising four parties that held a parliamentary majority with 50 seats from 1996 to 2000, suffered a major setback, winning only a single seat. Independent politician Lamjavyn Gündalai, the Motherland–Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party (M–MNDSP), and the Civil Will Party also won one seat each.^[7]

The opposition was fractured into twelve political parties and three coalitions that altogether nominated 560 candidates. No other party than the MPRP had obtained more than one seat in parliament.^[7][8]

The electoral wipeout of the Democratic Union is attributed to their chaotic four years in government, political infighting, and the assassination of democratic revolutionary Sanjaasürengiin Zorig.^[8] The latter, which led to the formation of a splinter Civil Will Party led by his sister, Sanjaasürengiin Oyun.^[9]

On 6 December 2000, the five former member parties of the Democratic Union merged and established the Democratic Party of Mongolia (DP).^[10] Independent MP Gundalai joined the DP in late 2000, increasing the number of Democratic seats from 1 to 2. The DP founded the Motherland Democratic Coalition with the M–MNDSP in May 2003. The Civil Will–Republican Party, a merger of the Civil Will Party and the Republican Party, would join the coalition later in July 2003.^[11]

The members of the State Great Khural were elected from single-seat constituencies by a plurality voting method. The previous parliamentary elections of 1996 and 2000 were both held under the same system.^[12]

Of the 76 seats, 20 were elected from the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, and the other 56 were elected from the 21 aimags of Mongolia.^[12]

The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party's supermajority was reduced to 36 seats in the June 2004 elections. The MPRP lost its majority but still remained the largest plurality in parliament. The opposition Motherland Democratic Coalition, comprising three parliamentary opposition parties, won 34 seats. In addition, three independents and one Republican Party member were elected to the State Great Khural.^[2] A hung parliament was convened on 27 July 2004, when 74 members of parliament-elect were sworn in.^[15] Election irregularities were detected in one poll in the 24th constituency and in two polls in the 59th constituency, leaving two seats vacant throughout much of 2004 and 2005.^[12]

Re-runs were held at the 59th constituency on 27 February 2005, which affirmed the election of the MPRP candidate, Jügderdemidiin Gürragchaa.^[16] In the 24th constituency, a long legal battle between the two sides occurred. On 26 September 2005, the Supreme Court of Mongolia issued a decision on the election dispute, rejecting the MPRP representative's complaint to annul the results, in which the Democratic Party candidate won. The DP candidate, Zandaakhüügiin Enkhbold, was sworn in on 3 October 2005, when the parliamentary autumn session convened.^[6]

More information Party or alliance, Votes ...

Party or alliance				Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party			523,677	48.87	37	–35
	Motherland Democratic Coalition		Democratic Party	481,166	44.90	26	New
			Motherland–Mongolian Democratic New Socialist Party			7	+6
			Civil Will–Republican Party			2	+1
		Total		481,166	44.90	35	New
	Republican Party			14,819	1.38	1	+1
	Mongolian Traditional United Party			6,097	0.57	0	New
	Mongolian Party of National Unity			5,097	0.48	0	New
	Mongolian Green Party			2,153	0.20	0	–
	Mongolian Liberal Party			2,080	0.19	0	New
	Independents			36,543	3.41	3	+2
Total				1,071,632	100.00	76	0
Valid votes				1,073,471	98.55
Invalid/blank votes				15,845	1.45
Total votes				1,089,316	100.00
Registered voters/turnout				1,330,996	81.84
Source: General Election Commission[14]

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