Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj - Presidency

Presidency

As soon as President Elbegdorj took office, he initiated an Amnesty Law, mainly in order to free the 300 prisoners sentenced after the July 1, 2008, uprising. The MPRP-dominated parliament distorted the bill to include corrupt politicians.

In September 2009, Elbegdorj visited the Independent Authority Against Corruption and expressed his dissatisfaction with the work of this important agency as it investigates petty corruption instead of political corruption. He disbanded the Community council of the IAAC formed by the former President N. Enkhbayar which included sport and music stars and supreme clergy. He then reorganized the council with professional lawyers.

By the end of 2009, the President vetoed the national budget which allocated a billion tugrik for each MP (76,000,000,000 total) to invest in their respective constituencies. Such allocation of funds was seen as a form of political corruption and distortion of the democratic principle of checks and balances that constitutionally divides power between the legislative and executive branches. (Some observers compared it to "pork" in the United States government budgeting.) It also provides unfair advantage to the current MPs in future election campaigns, say opponents. The parliament over-rode the veto, which supporters of the veto said proved the parliament was "deeply corrupt."

On January 14, 2010, Elbegdorj announced that he would, henceforth, systematically use his prerogative to pardon all persons sentenced to death. He stated that most countries in the world had abolished the death penalty, and that Mongolia should follow their example; he suggested that it be replaced with a thirty year prison sentence. The decision was controversial; when Elbegdorj announced it in Parliament, MPRP represesentatives chose not to give the applause customarily due after a presidential speech. (See: Capital punishment in Mongolia)

Despite the harsh criticism from conservative politicians and the opposition, Elbegdorj's decision to abolish the death penalty and his insistence on adopting the 2nd Optional Protocol to the Convention on Civil and Political Rights was received highly among other nations around the world. As a result, on October 18, 2011 Elbegdorj was awarded the prize for "Abolitionist of the Year 2011" by the international organization "Hands off Cain." They viewed the actions by Elbegdorj to an "example of a country that fosters the human rights to life among Asian countries.

"By ratifying the Second Optional Protocol Mongolia would add yet one more country in the world community to fully abolish the death penalty. Pardoning a life does not mean pardoning a penalty. The punishment for serious and cruel felonies must be severe, and must be just. However, I do not think it is just to deprive any citizens of life in the name of the State. The right to life is a fundamental right of a human being and cannot depend on anyone, not even on the Head of the State. The State should respect that very fundamental human right, and secure it by law." - Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, May 18, 2010, “From Moratoriam to Abolition of the Capital Punishment-No Justice Without Life”

In 2012, the Mongolian Parliament updated a law to join the 2nd Optional Protocol to the Convention on Civil and Political Rights; making Mongolia a state party to the convention and reinforcing the country’s commitment to the abolition of capital punishment.

As President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj also convened a Judiciary Reform and Justice Forum in Ulan Bator, Mongolia on April, 2011. The reform established laws designed to ensure impartiality of judges and created a merit-based system for the selection of new judges. The judicial reform also allows citizen representatives to participate in court trials and requires that all judicial decisions are updated on the internet to maintain public awareness of all court proceedings.

Elbegdorj is also the very first Mongolian President to initiate campaigns for greater environmental sustainability and also a campaign against the abuse of alcohol use in Mongolia. Elbegdorj declared that one day of the year will be a National Day to Plant Trees all around Mongolia. Elbegdorj has also focused on curbing the abuse of alcoholic beverages in Mongolia and has even gone as far as to ban the use of all alcoholic beverages at State Dinner and State Ceremonies under his name. In September 22, 2011, Elbegdorj was awarded the "Presidential Medal for Leadership in the Cause of Democracy" by the U.S. Foreign Policy Association and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The award recognized the vital role Elbegdorj played in peacefully ending the 70 year old communist regime and also his dedication to human rights, freedom, and supportive of market economy.

President Elbegdorj serves as chair of the Community of Democracies, an intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries to which Mongolia is a participating member. During his time as chair, Elbegdorj has led initiatives within the coalition to promote Zero Tolerance to Corruption and Education for Democracy and also spoke on behalf of these initiatives at the 66th General Assembly of United Nations. He has also worked with coalition members to form an agenda around the strengthening of civil society and women’s rights and their political participation.