Photo: Nomin-Erdene during the “Easy to Resign” protest

Nomin-Erdene Dorlig, 23, is an economist. Earlier this year, she had plans to study abroad and most likely stay there. But the protest known as “Easy to Resign” sparked something in her: the desire to stay, and to fight for change at home.

“I asked myself if there was any hope left here. And instead of running away, I chose to stand up for myself,” she said during the final day of the protest.

“This wasn’t just any protest. It carried the voices and hopes of so many young people—those who were about to leave, those who had already lost faith, and those living abroad who couldn’t be here. We redefined what it means to be patriotic. We gave that word its dignity back. This protest wasn’t just a warning for Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai—it was a message to every politician in Mongolia: If you humiliate your people long enough, resignation comes easy. Our homeland isn’t a burden to flee. It’s a home we must fix.”

The crowd erupted in applause.

After 22 days of peaceful demonstration, the “Easy to Resign” protest marked a turning point in youth political engagement. Today, one in three Mongolians is between the ages of 15 and 34. These are the post-democracy generation—globally minded, connected, and unafraid to raise their voices. For a generation that had long trailed in voter turnout, their political participation has now been reignited.

“Spending 22 days at the protest felt like an intensive crash course in how to be a responsible citizen in a democracy,” said Nomin-Erdene. “They mock us for having the memory of goldfish. But we remember. And we’ll show them in the next elections. I’ve learned that democracy stands on two pillars: one is elections—we must vote. The other is protest—we must stay alert to what our leaders are doing.”

A Cultural Shift in Protest

From day one, the protest emphasised peaceful, nonviolent civil action. It was Oulen Munkhbat who urged participants to remain seated and calm—something that initially seemed unlikely.

“At first, I thought, who would actually listen to me and sit down?” Oulen recalled. “But the public’s response was better than I ever expected.”

They cited research showing that peaceful protest is twice as likely to lead to meaningful change. When just 3.5% of a population mobilises nonviolently, systemic change becomes possible.

“We saw in real time how a peaceful protest—with clear demands—can actually achieve those demands. I’m incredibly proud of every protester who made that happen,” Oulen said.

Public distrust of protests had been high in Mongolia. Many believed protests were staged, paid for, or manipulated for hidden agendas. This erosion of trust had weakened what is, in fact, one of the most powerful tools of a democracy: the right to protest.

But this time, something shifted.

“This peaceful protest helped restore people’s faith in public assembly,” said Enkhbadral Myagmar, Executive Director of the National Center for Comprehensive Development. “That’s a major cultural change. During COVID, we saw the rise of a fear-based regime—rights were restricted under the banner of public health, and fear was used as a tool of control. Even after COVID ended, that system remained in place. Yesterday, we finally broke through it.”

Three Achievements in 22 Days

The 22-day protest achieved all three of its core demands.

First, Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai resigned—proof that citizens could demand and achieve real change.

“We’ll send an open letter to the next Prime Minister, outlining the hopes and visions of the people standing here,” said Enkhbadrakh. “This won’t be a demand—it will be a signal of what citizens expect and dream of. And if those expectations are ignored, resignation will come easily. That’s the new standard. I don’t think we’ll see another leader who tells people to ‘know your place.’”

Second, the protest opposed the formation of a coalition government and called for a strong opposition within Parliament. MP Kherlen Badarch addressed this directly during a parliamentary session:

“To mature our parliamentary system, we must allow majority and minority parties to debate and contest decisions. If all parties in Parliament unite under one coalition, who will play the role of opposition? Who will demand accountability? As the opposition disappears from Parliament, it’s the people protesting outside who become the opposition.”

As a result of the protest, the Democratic Party withdrew from the ruling coalition, strengthening parliamentary checks and balances. That, protesters say, may be an even greater victory than the Prime Minister’s resignation.

Third, the protest voiced growing concerns about a potential shift toward a presidential system in Mongolia. In response, demonstrators called for the protection of the Constitution. President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa publicly supported this position, stating:

“It is not people who must rule—it is the law.”

That, too, was a significant and symbolic win.