Mongolia is holding an X Factor-style referendum by text message after the prime minister turned to the unusual form of direct democracy to help shape the country’s economic policy. Saikhanbileg Chimed’s plan has echoes of TV talent shows but could help solve a stand-off over one of the world’s largest mining projects, with voters being asked whether their country should develop more of its mineral resources or resort to austerity to support the faltering economy. At the heart of the four-day text poll is Mongolia’s lengthy dispute with Rio Tinto, the Anglo-Australian mining group, over its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine. Rio’s plans to expand the mine have stalled because it cannot agree terms with Mongolia over the $6bn project’s financing and revenue sharing. Oyu Tolgoi is crucial to Mongolia’s economy and is expected to generate one-third of the country’s gross domestic product when it becomes fully operational. The failure of the two sides to develop the mine’s second phase has sent Mongolia’s currency plummeting, and cast doubt over its openness to foreign investment. The texting referendum, to take place from Saturday, will not be binding but could help Mr Saikhanbileg broker a consensus in favour of allowing Oyu Tolgoi to proceed, and silence critics who say Mongolia is not receiving its fair share of the mine’s earnings. Mr Saikhanbileg, who explained the referendum this week on television, was trying to engage with the general public “over the heads of squabbling factions in parliament and break the logjam”, said one person who advises investors in Mongolia. 蒙古將舉行一場選秀節目《X音素》(X Factor)式的短信公投。蒙古總理其•賽汗比勒格(Saikhanbileg Chimed)決定採用這種不尋常的直接民主方式幫助制定該國經濟政策。 賽汗比勒格的計劃雖然讓人聯想到電視選秀節目，但可能有助於解決圍繞全球最大采礦項目之一所產生的對峙，他要求選民回答如下問題：爲了支持蒙古疲軟的經濟，他們的國家是該開採更多礦產資源，還是要採取緊縮政策？ 這場爲期四天的短信投票的核心，是蒙古與英澳採礦集團力拓(Rio Tinto)之間關於奧尤陶勒蓋(Oyu Tolgoi)銅礦的漫長糾紛。 由於力拓無法同意蒙古就這個60億美元項目提出的融資和收益共享條件，其對該礦的擴大開採計劃一直受到擱置。 奧尤陶勒蓋銅礦對蒙古經濟至關重要，如果全面投產，預計能貢獻該國三分之一的國內生產總值(GDP)。雙方未能繼續開發該銅礦的第二階段，已令蒙古貨幣暴跌，蒙古對外國投資的開放性也受到懷疑。 將於週六開始的這場短信公投不會具有政策約束力，但可以幫助賽汗比勒格促成一項支持奧尤陶勒蓋項目繼續進行的共識，還可以令那些稱蒙古沒得到銅礦收益公平份額的批評者緘默。 賽汗比勒格本週在電視上對此次公投作出瞭解釋。一位對在蒙古的投資者提供建議的顧問說，賽汗比勒格是試圖“越過議會中爭吵不休的派系”，直接與大衆展開互動，以“打破僵局”。
