The first round yielded no definitive winner after no candidate succeeded in securing over 50 percent of votes.

Center-right Democratic Party contender Battulga Khaltmaa led with 38 percent of votes, trailed by parliamentary speaker Miyegombyn Enkhbold of the center-left Mongolian People's Party.

This is the seventh presidential election in the former Soviet state in Central Asia bordered by Russia and China. Sitting President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj is not eligible after two stints in office. </s> A brash businessman with martial arts skills has clinched Mongolia's first ever presidential runoff election after his opponent conceded defeat in the scandal-plagued race to take the helm of the resource-rich but debt-laden country.

Khaltmaa Battulga, of the opposition Democratic Party (DP), won with 50.6 percent of the vote on a 60.9 percent turnout, giving him the majority needed to overcome his opponent, parliament speaker Miyeegombo Enkhbold of the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP).

Election officials are still, however, waiting on a final count of votes from abroad.

Recognising he was down for the count, Enkhbold thanked his supporters in a concession speech broadcast on Facebook, saying that he would "respect and accept the presidential results".

"Although the MPP couldn't succeed in this election, the cabinet will keep working to complete our agenda of overcoming the financial crisis for the well being of our people," said Enkhbold.

He added that he had spoken to the sitting president about "transferring power as well as presidential stamp in the parliament house which also ends the election".

Meanwhile, Battulga promised his supporters in the capital Ulaanbaatar's Independence Square he would "push the government in order to complete all their work".

"We did this thanks to the power of the people," said Battulga.

Al Jazeera's Adrian Brown, reporting from Nalaikh, said Battulga's campaign message of "Mongolia First" appealed to the younger generation.

More than half of the country's population is under the age of 30.

READ MORE: Divided Mongolians vote in hotly contested elections

"During the election campaign, the main issues for people were the economy, unemployment, China and the fact that Mongolia needs to find other trading partners," he said.

"The first priority for the new president will be dealing with the economy."

Battulga, the real estate tycoon, whose company funded a massive $4.1m statue of emperor Genghis Khan, has pledged to tap the country's mining wealth to get Mongolians out of debt.



The president will inherit a $5.5bn IMF-led bailout designed to stabilise the country's economy and lessen its dependence on China, which purchases 80 percent of Mongolian exports.

The former Soviet satellite's economy grew by a measly one percent last year, a stark contrast from an impressive 17 percent in 2011.

It has been hit hard by a more than 50 percent fall in the price of copper, its main export, over the past five years, while the slowing growth of its biggest customer, China, has hobbled the economy. </s> A former martial-arts expert and opposition candidate has won a runoff election for Mongolia’s presidency, results from election officials show.

The Central Election Commission on July 8 said Battulga Khaltmaa of the opposition Democratic Party had 50.6 percent of the vote against Enkhbold Miyegombo from the ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP), who had 41.1 percent. About 8.3 percent of the votes were abstentions.

The runner-up conceded defeat, thanking supporters and saying he would "respect and accept the presidential results."

"Although the MPP couldn't succeed in this election, the cabinet will keep working to complete our agenda of overcoming the financial crisis for the well-being of our people," he said.

Election officials said more than 1.2 million people voted in the country’s seventh presidential election. Turnout was 60.5 percent.

The president-elect, who ran on a populist, anti-China platform, told reporters that "I will start work straight away to resolve the economic difficulties and make Mongolians debt free as I promised."

Battulga, a real estate tycoon, has vowed to utilize Mongolia’s mining wealth to get the country out of debt.

Mongolia has negotiated a $5.5 billion International Monetary Fund-led bailout to help stabilize the economy and ease its dependence on China, which buys about 80 percent of Mongolian exports.

The campaign was marked by scandal, with both candidates being accused of financial irregularities.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa </s> Ulaanbaatar, July 10 : With Battulga Khaltmaa of Mongolia's leading opposition Democratic Party set to assume the presidency on Monday, the former communist state could begin to significantly restructure its economy, reducing its reliance on neighboring China and strengthening ties to other world powers.

Mongolia's election commission on Sunday certified the results of Friday's runoff election, declaring Battulga the victor with 50.6 per cent of the vote. The 54-year-old former martial arts star soundly defeated rival Enkhbold Miyegombo of the ruling Mongolian People's Party, who fetched 41.2 per cent of the vote. Some 60.7 per cent of Mongolia's 1.99 million eligible voters turned out.

Diversifying Mongolia's economic relations with the rest of the world is a top priority for the president-elect. Currently, China takes in some 80% of Mongolia's exports, the bulk of which are raw materials. The new government is expected to forge closer relations with partners such as Japan, Russia and the U.S., cultivating greater independence from its powerful neighbor. This strategy accords with the nationalist tone struck by Battulga's campaign, as well as his pledge to rectify conspicuous wealth inequality in the country.

The president-elect nevertheless pledged Saturday night to work with his party's nine lawmakers to put pressure on the ruling party, and to work hard for the Mongolian people. Battulga will need to pick his battles carefully: Antagonizing the People's Party could bring legislative work to a halt.

The run-off was scheduled after the June 26 vote failed to result in a outright winner.

Some investors have been wary of a Battulga presidency because of his calls for more state control of some mines and his suspicions of China, Mongolia's biggest trade partner. </s> Mongolians have begun casting their votes in a presidential election dominated by allegations of graft and concerns about financial upheaval in the landlocked country.

A horse salesman, a former judo star and a nationalist who wants Mongolia to gain a greater share of its mineral wealth are vying to be the new president.

The three candidates are seeking to succeed Tsakhia Elbegdorj of the Democratic Party, who has served the maximum of two four-year terms.

While the nation of 3 million had been an oasis of democratic stability since the end of communist rule nearly three decades ago, its politics have grown increasingly fractious amid an economic crisis and accusations of corruption among the ruling class. </s> Mongolia's new President Khaltmaa Battulga speaks during the inauguration ceremony in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, July 10, 2017. (Xinhua/Asigang)



ULAN BATOR, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Khaltmaa Battulga of the Mongolian Democratic Party was officially inaugurated here as president of the country on Monday.

The inauguration, held at the State Palace, was attended by Prime Minister Jargaltulga Erdenebat, Chairman of the Constitutional Court Jugnee Amarsanaa, parliament and government members, among others.

Taking the oath, Battulga pledged to respect and protect the rights and freedom of Mongolian citizens, "observe and protect the Constitution of Mongolia, protect sovereignty and independence, security and integrity of the state, and truly serve the people."

Aiming at reducing poverty, Battulga said he will restore the economy, develop the industrial sphere and ensure ecological balance.

The new president said he will also "expand friendly relations with China and Russia in all spheres" before receiving the seal from outgoing President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

The inauguration came three days after the General Election Commission announced that Battulga won the election Friday against Miyegombo Enkhbold of the Mongolian People's Party, with 50.6 percent of the vote in the runoff.

The Mongolian president serves a four-year term and can be re-elected only once.

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Hot dog eating contest held in New York </s> ULAANBAATAR (Reuters) - No candidate has won an outright victory in Mongolia’s presidential election meaning the first ever run-off between two leading candidates will be held next month, the General Election Committee said on Tuesday.

Presidential candidate Khaltmaa Battulga gestures outside a polling station after casting his ballot in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, June 26, 2017. REUTERS/B. Rentsendorj

A populist former martial arts star Khaltmaa Battulga of the opposition Democratic Party won the most votes in the Monday election, but failed to secure the majority required, the committee said.

He will face ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP) candidate Miyeegombo Enkhbold, who came second, in a run-off on July 9, the committee’s chairman, Choinzon Tsodnomtseren, told a news briefing.

The election has been seen as a referendum on the government’s economic recovery plans and China’s role in the remote, resource-rich country known as the birthplace of Mongol emperor Genghis Khan.

Battulga, who is regarded as a resource nationalist who is suspicious of Mongolia’s giant neighbor to the south, had been confident about his chances.

“I never lose, I must win. I always win in the history of my life,” Battulga told Reuters in an interview late on Monday, before the preliminary results were announced.

After final tallies from districts came in overnight, Battulga emerged with 517,478 votes, 38.1 percent of the total, according to Mongolian state television.

Enkhbold of the ruling MPP, regarded as pro-investment and market-friendly, scraped through to the second round with 411,748 votes, 30.3 percent of the total.

Enkhbold, an establishment politician and the speaker of parliament, appears to have suffered as a result of his party’s austerity policies.

AUSTERITY

The government was forced to implement austerity measures to secure a $5.5 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in May.

The administration raised interest rates and slashed public spending last year to try to cope with heavy debt and a precipitous fall in the value of Mongolia’s currency, the tugrik.

Enkhbold, who was favorite in the run-up to the vote, was trailing in third place for much of the count after a stronger than expected performance by Sainkhuu Ganbaatar of the breakaway Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP).

Ganbaatar finished with 30.2 percent, trailing Enkhbold by fewer than 2,000 votes, and is eliminated from the contest.

All three presidential candidates promised to fix economic problems but their campaigns were clouded by corruption allegations.

Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, leading a delegation of election observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, expressed concern about electoral transparency.

Slideshow (4 Images)

Though Ahrens said attempts to bribe voters were not witnessed, “the rumors were rather massive”.

Turnout was 68.27 percent, and included more than 18,000 ballots left blank by voters protesting against the choice of candidates.

Mongolia is a parliamentary democracy. The government is run by a prime minister, but the president has powers to veto legislation and make judicial appointments. </s> ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) - Mongolians have begun casting their votes in a presidential election dominated by allegations of graft and concerns about financial upheaval in the landlocked country.

A horse salesman, a former judo star and a nationalist who wants Mongolia to gain a greater share of its mineral wealth are vying to be the new president.

The three candidates are seeking to succeed Tsakhia Elbegdorj of the Democratic Party, who has served the maximum of two four-year terms.

Speaker of Parliament and Mongolian People's Party presidential candidate Miyegombo Enkhbold, left, casts his vote at a polling station at a school in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, June 26, 2017. Mongolians are voting for a new president on Monday in a race pitting a horse salesman against a former judo star and a nationalist wanting to get more from the vast landlocked country's mineral wealth. (AP Photo/Chadraabal Baramsai)

While the nation of 3 million had been an oasis of democratic stability since the end of communist rule nearly three decades ago, its politics have grown increasingly fractious amid an economic crisis and accusations of corruption among the ruling class. </s> Mongolia's new President Khaltmaa Battulga is from the opposition Democratic Party. (Reuters)
Mongolians go to the polls to elect a new president. The centre-right Democratic Party's Battulga Khaltmaa wins a plurality of votes, but falls short of a majority, necessitating a second round.