Making Mongolia great again?

More than two million Mongolians are electing a new president today, having the choice of three candidates: Miyeegombyn Enkhbold of the Mongolian People’s Party, Khaltmaa Battulga of the Democratic Party, and Sainkhuugiin Ganbaatar of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party. The race has so far been led by Miyegombo Enkhbold of the ruling Mongolian People’s Party, who is currently chairman of the State Great Khural, Mongolia’s parliament. Latest polls however show that Enkhbold and Battulga are neck and neck.

All three candidates emphasise the territorial integrity of Mongolia, and nationalism has been a strong force in the political discourse in the run-up to the election, especially with some Sinophobic elements.

If none of the three candidates wins a majority on Monday, there will be a runoff between the top two. It would be the first runoff since the country held its first presidential election in 1993. The incumbent President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj is not running again for re-election. He has been President of Mongolia since 2009 and was one of the architects of democracy in the country.