**Mongolia's Prime Minister Resigns Following Parliamentary Vote of No Confidence**

Washington - Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai resigned early Tuesday after failing to secure enough support in a parliamentary vote of confidence, as reported by Mongolian media. The Mongolian embassy in Washington confirmed the resignation.

The prime minister received only 44 votes, substantially short of the 64 required to continue in office, according to news site ikon.mn. The vote came on the heels of persistent protests driven by revelations regarding extravagant expenditure by the prime minister's son, prompting calls for Oyun-Erdene to step down.

Before the crucial vote, Oyun-Erdene cautioned that an unstable governance could endanger Mongolia's nascent democracy. He emphasized that political disarray and economic decline could shatter public confidence in parliamentary rule, potentially destabilizing the democratic system.

During his resignation speech, Oyun-Erdene defended his integrity while acknowledging a key mistake in his tenure: focusing too much on large-scale projects at the expense of social and internal political affairs. Oyun-Erdene had been in office for four years and had previously withstood calls for his resignation.

Last year's electoral reforms expanded Mongolia's parliament from 76 to 126 seats, resulting in a coalition government. Despite being sandwiched between Russia and China, Mongolia has made strides in democratic governance since the collapse of the Soviet Union, transitioning from a communist state to a democracy.

However, protesters claim that the country’s mineral wealth has disproportionately benefited business elites while leaving many citizens in poverty. Erin Murphy, deputy director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, remarked on the challenges of building a democratic foundation amid significant economic pressures that frustrate the populace.

Murphy also emphasized the importance of observing the new government's strategies in addressing these persistent issues. While democracy in Mongolia is not yet fully established, it shows signs of taking root.