Asia-Pacific

Mongolian opposition party expels its leader

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-16 14:44

ULAN BATOR - Mongolia's Green Party had expelled its chairman, Enkhbat Dangaasuren, local media reported Wednesday.

The party said in a press statement its Committee of Ethics and Rules made the decision after finding Enkhbat violated the party's rules.

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Committee chair M. Chinzorig said the decision by Green Party leaders to merge with the Civil Will Party was against the will of party members and the rules of the party.

However, Enkhbat said the merger was approved by the party's conference and supported by most party members, adding the committee had no right to him. Only the party's assembly had that power.

The Green Party and the Civil Will Party signed a deal last month to merge in preparation for the next parliamentary election.

But some members of both parties opposed the merger, saying it was illegal and did not consider the interest of ordinary members.

Currently, there are 17 registered political parties in Mongolia. The largest two are the Mongolian People's Party and the Mongolian Democratic Party, which holds the majority of the 76 parliamentary seats.

The Green Party was formed in 1990 and the Civil Will Party was in 1992.