New Mongolian president celebrates narrow win
Reporting from Ulan Bator, Mongolia -- Thousands nike shoesof Mongolians, from nomadic herders to businessmen, jammed into Ulan Bator's public square Monday to welcome their newly elected president shortly after the opposition candidate was declared the winner in a close election.Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, a short bespectacled man, walked down the steps of the capital's parliament building, a huge statue of Genghis Khan behind him, as throngs of supporters waved flags and cheered.The Harvard-educated Elbegdorj, twice a former jordan shoesprime minister, told them that the election results were as much a victory for the rights and freedoms of Mongolia as it was for him and the Democratic Party. "It is a win for the entire country," he said.The spirited celebrations were in marked sport shoescontrast to last July, when rioting left five people dead and about 300 injured after allegations of fraud in parliamentary elections. That disputed election raised concerns about the young democracy in Mongolia, a country of 3 million that emerged in 1990 from more than 70 years of Communist rule.But there appeared to be no question about the integrity of Sunday's balloting, as international observers monitored polling stations around the country.Officials reported that Elbegdorj, 46, garnered more than 51% of the votes. The incumbent, Nambaryn Enkhbayar of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, conceded defeat before the official results were announced Monday afternoon."It's a fair election," said Erdentsetseg, a 58-year-old retired herder who like many Mongolians goes only by his given name. Dressed in a silver deel, a traditional silk costume, Erdentsetseg said she had traveled a day by train to cast her ballot in the city. She showed an ink dot on the index finger of her left hand -- a mark indicating that she had voted."What happened last year was very hard and difficult," she said of the rioting, in which people set the ruling party's headquarters on fire and also damaged the adjacent national art gallery. "Now nothing, we have no problem with democracy," she said.As she spoke, a bearded man behind her pumped his fist, shouting: "I'm for democracy."Mongolia's countryside traditionally had been a stronghold of the People's Revolutionary Party, whereas the Democratic Party drew more support from the younger urban population. But the global economic crisis has had a devastating effect on many animal herders and traders of skins and meat, as the prices of cashmere and livestock have fallen sharply amid declining demand.Dalhiitsetseg, 52, said he supported Elbegdorj because it was time for a change. The incumbent served four years, "but he didn't do anything. We can't get out from our poor life," said Dalhiitsetseg, who migrated to Ulan Bator in 2003 from the countryside but has struggled to find good work. |
