The ruling Mongolian People’s Party has nominated Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene as the next premier after Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his government resigned on Thursday, following protests against his government’s COVID-19 control measures erupted in the capital Ulaanbaatar. 

Oyun-Erdene received full support from members of the party who attended an online conference on Friday.

PM Ukhnaa Khurelsukh proposed the resignation of his government on Thursday after two ministers announced their withdrawal amid social pressure and public protests over the treatment of a COVID-19 patient, and the parliament accepted his proposal

The 41-year-old had served as a member of parliament since 2016, and as chief cabinet secretary since 2019.

The nomination will be submitted to President Khaltmaa Battulga and approved by parliament.

Khurelsukh proposed the resignation of his government on Thursday after two ministers announced their withdrawal amid social pressure and public protests, and the parliament accepted his proposal.

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Protests were triggered in the capital after TV footage showed a COVID-19 patient who had just given birth being transferred from a maternity hospital to a quarantine facility, wearing only hospital pajamas and plastic slippers in the freezing weather with her newborn baby on Tuesday night.

Khurelsukh's government resigned less than seven months after the general election. It is the first time in the country's history that a government has resigned voluntarily. 

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