section_path: Analysis
section_name: Analysis
paragraph_text: Analysis
  
  Commentators and political analysts noted that the protests and the resulting political crisis coincided with a power struggle within the ruling MPP. According to broadcaster and analyst Jargal DeFacto, some factions were using the controversy to advocate for constitutional changes that would allow President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh to seek a second term. The Constitution of Mongolia limits the president to a single six-year term.
  
  Khurelsukh, a former prime minister and member of the MPP, previously faced criticism for foreign policy decisions, including inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to Mongolia despite international legal obligations to detain him on war crimes charges under the Rome Statute, and attending the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow. Political economy analyst and columnist Bolorerdene Bazarsuren told The Diplomat that discussions about Mongolia potentially shifting to a presidential system were longstanding. She noted that excessive emphasis on defending the Constitution has, in her view, sidelined public interests and contributed to the power struggle among political elites amid the protests. Bazarsuren warned that if the standoff persisted, it could escalate into a broader debate over changing Mongolia's system of governance.
  
  On 18 May, the Presidential Press Office announced that President Khurelsukh would not seek a second term in the 2027 election and further affirmed his stance on 2 June, on a surprise late-night appearance during the parliamentary debate about the vote of confidence.
  
  Jargal DeFacto also noted that Oyun-Erdene's efforts to create a sovereign wealth fund and reduce reliance on a debt- and commodity-driven economy had provoked opposition from powerful business interests. Although the prime minister emphasized anti-corruption initiatives in sectors such as banking, mining, and education, the effectiveness of these efforts was questioned due to systemic issues within the judiciary. Public trust was further undermined by high inflation and rising interest rates.