• Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh vetoed the dismissal of PM Gombojav Zandanshatar.
• Parliament's removal vote lacked a quorum, rendering it invalid, according to the President's office.
• The Prime Minister has faced criticism for changes in mineral taxation policies.
• The political crisis follows unrest tied to corruption and a struggling economy.

Mongolia's President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh has vetoed the dismissal of Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar, following a parliamentary vote on October 20 to remove him. The decision came amid rising political tensions related to a dispute over mineral taxation policies. Khurelsukh, citing procedural flaws, stated that the parliamentary vote was invalid because it lacked a quorum, which is constitutionally mandated for such decisions, according to Le Monde and Al Jazeera.

The contention surrounding Zandanshatar’s position is compounded by internal strife within the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP). Zandanshatar has received criticism from party lawmakers regarding significant changes to the country's mineral policy, which would require exporters to pay royalties based on domestic stock prices rather than international benchmarks. Critics argue this could adversely affect the national budget, according to South China Morning Post, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera.

This political situation is part of a broader context of unrest within Mongolia, which, despite being rich in natural resources, has struggled with corruption, rising living costs, and economic instability. Such factors had previously led to the ouster of Zandanshatar's predecessor, Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene, following a no-confidence vote, highlighting the ongoing volatility in Mongolian politics, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.