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. 蒙古将举行一场选秀节目《X音素》(X Factor)式的短信公投。蒙古总理其•赛汗比勒格(Saikhanbileg Chimed)决定采用这种不寻常的直接民主方式帮助制定该国经济政策。 赛汗比勒格的计划虽然让人联想到电视选秀节目，但可能有助于解决围绕全球最大采矿项目之一所产生的对峙，他要求选民回答如下问题：为了支持蒙古疲软的经济，他们的国家是该开采更多矿产资源，还是要采取紧缩政策？ 这场为期四天的短信投票的核心，是蒙古与英澳采矿集团力拓(Rio Tinto)之间关于奥尤陶勒盖(Oyu Tolgoi)铜矿的漫长纠纷。 由于力拓无法同意蒙古就这个60亿美元项目提出的融资和收益共享条件，其对该矿的扩大开采计划一直受到搁置。 奥尤陶勒盖铜矿对蒙古经济至关重要，如果全面投产，预计能贡献该国三分之一的国内生产总值(GDP)。双方未能继续开发该铜矿的第二阶段，已令蒙古货币暴跌，蒙古对外国投资的开放性也受到怀疑。 将于周六开始的这场短信公投不会具有政策约束力，但可以帮助赛汗比勒格促成一项支持奥尤陶勒盖项目继续进行的共识，还可以令那些称蒙古没得到铜矿收益公平份额的批评者缄默。 赛汗比勒格本周在电视上对此次公投作出了解释。一位对在蒙古的投资者提供建议的顾问说，赛汗比勒格是试图“越过议会中争吵不休的派系”，直接与大众展开互动，以“打破僵局”。
