2004 Mongolian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Mongolia on 27 June 2004. Despite losing half of its seats to the opposition that was wiped out in the 2000 election, the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party won 36 out of 76 seats and remained as the largest party in the State Great Khural.
The Motherland Democratic Coalition led by the newly founded Democratic Party won 34 out of 76 seats in the State Great Khural but failed to meet the threshold for a majority rule. 2 seats were disputed between the two parties, leaving them vacant until by-elections were held. A hung parliament was ultimately convened on 26 July 2004 and soon later a coalition government, headed by MDC chairman Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, was formed.
In the February 2005 by-elections, both the MPRP and the MDC each won a single seat in the 59th and 24th constituency.
Background
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, and the Civil Will Party also won one seat each.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.
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. The latter, which led to the formation of a splinter Civil Will Party led by his sister, Sanjaasürengiin Oyun.
On 6 December 2000, the five former member parties of the Democratic Union merged and established the Democratic Party of Mongolia. 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.
Electoral system
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.Of the 76 seats, 20 were elected from the capital city, Ulaanbaatar, and the other 56 were elected from the 21 aimags of Mongolia.
Timetable
The election timetable was approved by the General Election Commission on 8 April, four days before the date of the election was announced.| 12 April | Announcement of the election date |
| 22 April | Deadline for parties to submit intention to participate |
| 27 April–17 May | Parties nominate candidates |
| 27 May | The GEC issues candidate cards |
| 27 May–25 June | Election campaign period |
| 20 June | Deadline for the conduct of public opinion polling |
| 28 June | Polling day |