The Presidential election debates were aired on the MNB, the state subsidized national TV channel today at 21.00 and ended at 23.15. Although the media and public expected traditional debates, the organizers seemed preferred doing its own way.

32 questions were asked from the candidates, M.Enkhbold from MPP, Kh.Battulga, DP and S.Ganbaatar, MPRP. 8 questions related to the platforms of the candidates and the other questions were picked up from the boxes with questions from voters. At the beginning of the debates anchors had said that 447 questions were addressed to M.Enkhbold, 393 to Kh.Battulga, 262 to Kh.Battulga.

Almost nothing was said about the foreign investment and the mining sector except S.Ganbaatar as the topics are the most favorite ones. As a loyal anti-OT and anti-Rio Tinto candidate S.Ganbaatar can’t speak out that “People led by Baabar, paid fans of Rio Tinto had distorted it and they gave me many nicknames. I will shine as much as I am insulted.”  

Mongolians on social media are expressing their opinion on the debates, many twitted that they didn’t enjoy the debates as they were expecting more from the candidates and talk about policies rather than addressing the rumors and trying to clean themselves.

Even the closing remarks were not impressive as S.Ganbaatar sounded like he appreciates the public to give him a life-time opportunity being announced as a candidate for president. Kh.Battulga criticized the debates and expressed that the rules must be changed and provide more information to the public. M.Enkhbold who luckily opened and closed the debates, ended his remarks with his slogan.

The campaigning must be closed by 00.00 of June 24 as provided in the Law of Elections.

The 7^th Presidential elections to start at 8.00 and finish by 22.00 of Monday, June 26, 2017.