Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat
Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat | |
---|---|
Пунсалмаагийн Очирбат | |
1st President of Mongolia | |
In office 3 September 1990 – 20 June 1997 | |
Prime Minister | Sharavyn Gungaadorj Dashiin Byambasüren Puntsagiin Jasrai Mendsaikhany Enkhsaikhan |
Vice President | Radnaasümbereliin Gonchigdorj |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Natsagiin Bagabandi |
Chairman of the Presidium of the People's Great Khural | |
In office 21 March 1990 – 3 September 1990 | |
Preceded by | Jambyn Batmönkh |
Succeeded by | Office abolished Himself (as the President of Mongolia) |
Personal details | |
Born | Saint Petersburg Mining Institute | 23 January 1942
Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat (
Early life and career
Ochirbat was born on 23 January 1942 in
In 1967, Ochirbat was named Chief Engineer at the
1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
Ochirbat was named Chairman of the Presidium (titular head of state) of the People's Great Khural on 21 March 1990 following the resignation of
Presidential term
Although Ochirbat strongly advocated policies of rapid national revitalisation and economic reform to break the country from its socialist past and adopt capitalism by the year 2000, he had a reputation for flexibility and willingness to compromise and his persuasiveness helped diffuse confrontations and political crises in the lead up to the first free elections in June 1993. Nevertheless, ideological splits within the MPRP lead the party leadership to reject Ochirbat as their presidential candidate and instead nominate hardliner Lodongiin Tüdev, editor in chief of the communist newspaper
Ochirbat's term in office was beset by a series of political and economic crises. By the end of 1993, Ochirbat had become a harsh critic of government's failure to address the country's worsening economic situation. The country suffered food and energy shortages and high inflation. Ochirbat accused the government of not meeting its social welfare obligations. He was also critical of the Mongolian Intelligence services for failing to prevent the rise of transnational organised crime in Mongolia. He blamed over burdensome local and central bureaucracies for blocking faster economic improvement and called for reducing the overall size of the bureaucracy and speeding up privatization of government owned assets. By 1995 only 19.2% of economy had been privatised.
When in March 1994 opposition parties withdrew from parliament, Ochirbat publicly called for a protection of the rights of the minority parties and accused the ruling MPRP of exploiting the media to their advantage by limiting press coverage of parliament. He also supported reforms to election law to open elections to all parties in advance of parliamentary elections in 1996. In 1994, he vetoed a parliamentary decree to promote Cyrillic script in Mongolia and delay introduction of classical script.
In foreign affairs, Ochirbat called for a re-orientation of Mongolian foreign policy to broaden international cooperation with all nations, especially with Mongolia's two powerful neighbours China and Russia. He rejected the transport and stationing of weapons of mass destruction in Mongolia, and declared Mongolia a nuclear free zone. In 1994, Ochirbat undertook official visits to South and Southeast Asia, signed cooperation agreements with India and Laos, and obtained financial assistance from Thailand to address the food shortage crisis. Ochirbat was the first Mongolian leader ever to officially visit the United States[4] as well as the first Mongolian head of state in 30 years to visit Beijing, although relations with China suffered in autumn of 1995 when workers at the Mongolian embassy in Beijing discovered electronic bugs that had presumably been in place more than 10 years.[1]
1997 presidential election
Ochirbat again ran for president in the May 1997 election, but faced a Mongolian public unhappy with the economic dislocation caused by the fast pace of reforms. The country was racked by high unemployment, 30 percent inflation, widespread shortages of foodstuffs and energy supplies and a falling GDP. According to the World Bank, one third of population was living in poverty. Winning only 29 percent of the vote, Ochirbat lost the election to the chairman of the MPRP Natsagiin Bagabandi who had pledged to try to slow down the Government's radical reforms.[5]
Post-politics
After the election, Ochirbat left Mongolian politics and founded the "Ochirbat Foundation", a non-profit, non Governmental organisation that focused on poverty alleviation and self-sufficiency, environmental, and education programs.[6] In 2000 he became Director of the Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development at Mongolian University of Science and Technology. In 2005 he was appointed Member of the Constitutional Court of Mongolia and re-appointed in 2010.[7]
Awards
Ochirbat is the recipient of several awards and medals, including; Order of Chinggis Khan, Order of the Polar Star, Honoured medal of labour, Medal of the 50th, 60th, 80th anniversary of the People's Revolution, Medal of Military Force, Medal of the 800th Anniversary of the foundation of the Great Mongolian State, and Medal of the 20th Anniversary of the Democratic Revolution.[8]
Family
Ochirbat is married to former first lady Sharav Tsevelmaa and has two children.[citation needed]
References
- ^ a b сонин, Б. Энхзаяа, Өдрийн (2019-07-29). "П.Очирбат: "Алт" хөтөлбөртөө биш Монголын баялгийг хувааж идэх гэсэн төрийнхний дундах өрсөлдөөний хямрал юм". ikon.mn. Retrieved 2021-06-12.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Oliver Corff und Cäwälmaagiïn Batmönx. "Who is Who in der Mongolei". Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ New York Times. "Mongolia Ousts Leaders and Ends Communists' Monopoly on Power". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ AP. "Mongolia Gets U.S. Trade Aid". New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ New York Times. "Mongolian Ex-Communist Wins Upset Vote". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ "Ochirbat Foundation". Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ Constitutional Court of Mongolia. "Ochirbat".
- ^ Constitutional Court of Mongolia. "Ochirbat".