| Ethics of MPs to be Discussed by Parliament |
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| By D. Binderiya | |
| Wednesday, 29 November 2006 | |
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Parliament office officials said that the draft of the parliament
decree on approving rules on ethics of Parliament Members was supposed to be
discussed during a meeting of the Standing Committee on State Structure, but
have postponed it because the 2007 budget was discussed for the whole
afternoon. Centering on MPs conflicts of interests, the rule set is the first
of its kind, according to parliamentary officials.
In line with the schedule of the standing committees meetings, the first draft rule on the Ethics of Parliament members will be discussed later next week. The rule on ethics of Parliament members says, “The rule is directed to have parliament members to pursue ethics and principles for their activities and to carry out members’ duties honestly by regarding the Constitutional code and other legislation, respecting all citizens and state interests and being honest to their oath.” Officials of the Legal division of Parliament said that the issue has been discussed since 2002 and the first stage of discussions will now happen in Parliament. The sub-committee of ethics under the standing committee on State structure was established consisting of eight Parliament members: D. Arvin, S. Bayartsogt, D. Tuya, A. Tsanjid, J. Gurragchaa, D. Odkhuu, Ch. Sodnomtseren and S. Lambaa. The draft rule has regulatory conditions harping on five ethics. Key in the parliament members’ ethics to pursue during formal activity, it said that parliament member have to pursue the principle regarding of conflict of interest; to use government organization’s properties of telephone, mobile, vehicle, fax and internet on his formal business and not to appoint any relatives or family members under his direct management. The draft also says that members are prohibited to perform a manager’s rule or to participate in the management of a union, association or non-governmental organizations. Thus income statements of parliament member shall also be transparent to the public. Any outside money, gifts or awards that are not mentioned in the laws are prohibited and MPs will be referred to the anti-corruption law and law on legal status of Parliament members when they get gifts and mementos. “The working group led by A. Tsanjid of the sub-committee developed the draft rule and it was decided by the standing committee to discuss it,” said N. Nasanjargal, advisor to the working group and officer of the Legal division of Parliament. “Sub-committee of ethics will put control on the performance of the rule on Parliament members’ ethics,” says the draft rule. |
