Mongolia's election commission says Harvard-educated Elbegdorj Tsakhia has won a second presidential term.
Elbegdorj took 50.22 percent of the vote, with Baterdene Badmaanyambuu of the main opposition Mongolian People's Party receiving 41.48 percent. Udval Natsag, Mongolia's first female candidate for the presidency, had 8.3 percent of votes in yesterday's election.
The result is an affirmation of Elbegdorj's efforts to root out corruption in the Alaska-sized nation of 3 million people whose fortunes are being transformed by a boom in mining for coal, copper, gold, and other resources. Economic growth has soared, but corruption, inequality, and inflation have worsened.
Elbegdorj has also pledged to integrate the landlocked, north Asian country further in international society. His Democratic Party also controls the legislature under Prime Minister Altankhuyag Norov.
