Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – A fresh breeze of change is blowing through the corridors of power in Mongolia, propelled by young reformers like Tsenguun Saruulsaikhan. At just 27 years old, she represents a rising generation of leaders eager to pull Mongolia out of its past and thrust it into a promising future. However, Tsenguun faces the Herculean task of pushing through significant reforms, such as revising the country’s outdated and below-cost electricity rates. She believes these rates, a relic of Mongolia’s socialist past, hinder the nation’s progress and modernization.
Most of Mongolia’s power plants were built during the Soviet era, and frequent outages are a common inconvenience for many citizens. “It’s stuck in how it was like 40, 50 years ago,” Tsenguun lamented. Mongolia’s energy infrastructure is a poignant symbol of a country grappling with the vestiges of its socialist history while attempting to redefine itself in its third decade as a democracy. This young parliamentarian sees this era as a transition phase, one that requires courage and innovative thinking to navigate successfully.
Lawmakers in Mongolia have often been criticized for their tendency to enrich themselves and their affluent business allies, capitalizing on the country’s abundant mineral resources. This practice has perpetuated widespread poverty, much to the discontent of the general population. During the recent elections, voters voiced their frustrations, delivering a significant blow to the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP). Although the MPP remains in power, it holds a slim majority, controlling 68 out of the 126 seats in parliament. Notably, the MPP also governed during Mongolia’s communist era, and it continues to enjoy substantial support from older voters who remember those days.
The latest elections also marked a significant shift in the gender composition of the parliament. The proportion of female representatives rose from 17% to 25%, signaling progress towards gender parity. However, most of these seats were allocated based on party vote shares rather than direct elections, suggesting that there is still a long road ahead for true representation. Despite these structural challenges, the MPP has been attempting to reinvent itself in response to public discontent, promising a new chapter in Mongolia’s history.
Yet, the question remains: how substantial will these changes be? Tsenguun and her fellow reformers are cautiously optimistic but aware of the entrenched interests and historical baggage that complicate their mission. The beginning of a new era is always fraught with uncertainties, but it is also ripe with opportunities. Tsenguun’s youthful energy and commitment to progressive policies offer a glimmer of hope for a nation at a crossroads.
Her experiences have shown her what Mongolia could achieve if it sheds the constraints of its past and embraces a forward-thinking, inclusive approach. The new generation of leaders, with Tsenguun at the forefront, faces the daunting but exhilarating task of steering Mongolia toward a brighter, more equitable future. They have the chance to write a new chapter in the country’s history, one that might just start with something as fundamental as reliable, fairly-priced electricity.
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