ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — The new prime minister of Mongolia has pledged to address the economic demands of protesters after their daily rallies led to the fall of his predecessor.
Lawmakers approved former parliament speaker Zandanshatar Gombojav as prime minister by an overwhelming majority in a vote late Thursday night.
His election appeared to mark the end of several weeks of political uncertainty in a still-young democracy of 3.4 million people that is sandwiched between much larger China and Russia. The new leader faces multiple challenges including high inflation, a looming government budget deficit and fears of power shortages this winter.
Speaking ahead of the vote in parliament, Zandanshatar said this year's government spending needs to be reduced by about $640 million to avoid a significant revenue shortfall.
“Revision of the budget has become inevitable,” the former banker said, saying he would submit a revised budget to parliament next week.
Zandanshatar, 45, studied economics at university in Russia and was vice director of one of the largest commercial banks in Mongolia.
He was parliament speaker from 2020 to 2024 and was named head of the president's office after he lost his seat in an election last year. From 2014-16, he was a visiting scholar at Stanford University in California.
His predecessor, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, resigned 10 days ago after losing a vote of confidence in parliament.
The protests against Oyun-Erdene's rule were sparked by reports of lavish spending by his son. Many Mongolians feel the nation's mineral wealth has benefited politicians and their business friends rather than the general population. The poverty rate remains high in the sparsely-populated country.
Zandanshatar said he would ensure that economic growth is inclusive and reached all Mongolians. He promised to launch a tax reform to reduce the burden on the middle class and increase taxes on luxury consumption and those with ultra-high incomes.
He won election by a vote of 108 to 9 in the 126-member parliament. The other nine members were absent.
FILE - Then-U.S. State Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, front right, shakes hands with then Mongolia's Foreign Minister Zandanshatar Gombojav , left top on before the opening of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Hanoi, Vietnam Friday, July 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Kham, Pool, File)
FILE - Then-speaker of the Mongolian Parliament, Zandanshatar Gombojav, looks on during a meeting with Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament, Laszlo Kover, in the parliament building in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (Tibor Illyes/MTI via AP, File)
DUNKERQUE, France (AP) — Belgian rider Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Tour de France in a photo finish and Mathieu Van der Poel kept the yellow jersey on Monday.
Defending champion Tadej Pogačar and two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard — the main contenders — finished safely as they rolled in together with the main pack.
When the sprinters turned for home into a strong headwind, several crashed near the line at top speeds of 65 kph (40 mph). Merlier just got the front of his wheel in front of Italian Jonathan Milan as they lunged to the line. German rider Phil Bauhaus was third.
It was Merlier's second career stage win on the Tour, four years after his first, which also came on Stage 3.
“It was a big battle and it was difficult to maintain my position, I came from very far back in the last two kilometers," he said. "When I found myself next to Milan, I knew it would be complicated to beat him.”
Van der Poel, who rides for the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, did not contest the sprint the day after narrowly beating Pogacar to win Sunday’s rainy and hilly second stage.
Riders set off on Monday in wet conditions and wore light rain jackets on a 178-kilometer (110-mile) flat route from Valenciennes to the coastal city of Dunkerque.
The pace was slower than the two first days but the conditions were treacherous and, about 50 kilometers from the end, Stage 1 winner Jasper Philipsen abandoned.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider was knocked over by Frenchman Bryan Coquard and landed heavily on his side. Coquard was not to blame, however, as he lost balance only after being clipped by a rider overtaking him on the right.
“I've seen the images again, I really didn't know what happened in the moment," Coquard said. "I would like to say sorry to Philipsen and Alpecin, even if it was not an intentional act."
Another crash with three kilometers left felled double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, who was able to continue.
Then, with the finish in sight, a few more crashed — including Coquard, who somersaulted off his bike.
The 174-kilometer fourth stage is another hilly one for allrounders like Van der Poel and his former cyclo-cross rival Wout van Aert. It starts from Amiens and ends with five consecutive small climbs to the Normandy city of Rouen.
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The pack with Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best climber's dotted jersey rides during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar wearing the best climber's dotted jersey, right, rides with Germany's Nils Politt, center, and France's Lenny Martinez during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Belgium's Tim Merlier, center, and Italy's Jonathan Milan, right, sprint to the finish line during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Belgium's Tim Merlier, left, and Italy's Jonathan Milan cross the finish line during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Belgium's Tim Merlier celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 178.3 kilometers (110.8 miles) with start in Valenciennes and finish in Dunkerque, France, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
