Norovyn Altankhuyag


Norovyn Altankhuyag is a Mongolian politician who was the Prime Minister of Mongolia from 2012 to 2014 and a Member of Parliament. Democratic Party's National Consultative Committee elected him as the Leader of Democratic Party of Mongolia in 2008. He worked as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia in the coalition government of the Mongolian People's Party and Democratic Party of Mongolia in 2008–2012.
Previously, he served as the Minister of Agriculture and Industry in 1996–2000 and the Minister of Finance in 2004–2006. He served as senior advisor to the President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, from 2017 until his resignation in early 2019.

Early life

Altankhuyag was born in Uvs Province in Mongolia and attended Ulaangom's 1st secondary school from 1966–1976. Then he graduated the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of National University of Mongolia. After the graduation, he was honored to stay as a professor at the university.

Political career

During the 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia, he was one of pioneers in the youth movement. With his colleagues, he initiated the Democratic Socialist Movement. On 21 February 1990, the first meeting to establish the Mongolian Social Democratic Party was held, and he was elected as a member of the party establishing commission.
Between 1990–2006, he served as a General Secretary of different political parties four times. He was elected as the Member of Parliament twice.
Following the 2008 Mongolian parliamentary election, Democratic Party leader Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj resigned as a result of the party's controversial defeat and Altankhuyag was elected as the Democratic Party's new leader. During his leadership, Democratic Party of Mongolia launched "Mongolian People—2020" action plan to strengthen the values of democracy and civil society.

Prime Minister of Mongolia (2012–2014)

Following the 2012 Mongolian legislative election, Norovyn Altankhuyag was elected Prime Minister. During his tenure, Altankhuyag sold a large volume of government bonds, and thus was the head of the most wealthy government in Mongolia's history up to that point. As Altankhuyag mentioned in "Tsenzurgui Yaria", a TV show where celebrities are asked uncensored questions, he said the cause for the economic issues that led to the vote of no-confidence he received on 5 November 2014 was that he did not agree with President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's views on matters. Though the President of Mongolia has relatively little power, he claimed Elbegdorj strong-armed him on matters of government affairs. He says he's held a grudge against Elbegdorj since.