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Revision as of 05:50, 28 June 2004 by 202.179.3.171 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (Mongolian: Mongol Ardyn Khuv'sgatt Nam) is a political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPRP in English and MAKN in the transliterated Mongolian form.
The party is currently the ruling party in Mongolia. The current President, Natsagiyn Bagabandi, is a member of the party. The party also holds 72 of the 76 seats in the State Great Hural, where it is led by Prime Minister Nambaryn Enkhbayar.
The party was established on March 1, 1921, and is claimed to have been the first real political party in Mongolia. It was originally known simply as the Mongolian People's Party, but added the word "Revolutionary" at a conference in 1924. The organizational structure was modeled closely on that of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, which the party followed closely.
The early days of the party were marked with considerable controversy, often related to Mongolia's relationship to the Soviet Union; eventually, the pro-Soviet faction was triumphant, and more independent-minded leaders such as Dogsomyn Bodoo and Peljidiyn Genden were either sidelined or executed. Genden's fall resulted in the rise of Horloogiyn Choybalsan, who was a strong follower of Joseph Stalin and is generally regarded as the most brutal of the communist-era leaders. Many members of the party were purged during this period, primarily supporters of Genden's faction.
Choybalsan was followed by Yumjaagiyn Tsedenbal, who was Prime Minister of Mongolia for twenty-two years (the longest time served by any Prime Minister). Tsedenbal was considerably more moderate than Choybalsan, and implemented policies similar to those of new Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
In the 1990s, Mongolia began to modernize its political system, implementing many of the reforms seen in the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, the People's Revolutionary Party remained in office until 1996, when the Mongolian Democratic Union won power.
Under the leadership of Nambaryn Enkhbayar, the party modernized its image and appeared to shed many of the legacies of communism. Today, the party is essentially a social democratic organization. It won a landslide victory in the 2000 elections.
In 2003 and 2004, there were signs tha the MPRP might be making a slow return to Soviet style communism, though how far the party would go was a matter of debate. Signs include the acquisition and censorship of all television and most print media. Arrest and imprisonment (or threatened) for popular democratic leaders like General Baatar, Parliament Member Gundali, and former Finance Minister and author, B. Baybayar.
The MPRP's popularity waned in the 2004 as the government was viewed as becoming more oppressive against opposition parties, and tried to control freedom of speech and press - including the imprisonment of opposition journalists.
On June 27, 2004, Mongolian's voted in record numbers, dealing the MPRP a crushing defeat in the election, losing a total of 35 seats - 47% of the previously held seats. Voters complained of the MPRP's heavy-handed political style, which reminded them of the days of Soviet-style communism.
See also
External link
- Official website (English version)