The shaman who wanted to be a politician (2008)

July 2008,  democratic elections in Mongolia. Gansukh (which means Silver Axe) lives in a yurt in Moron, works as a shepherd and a sacred shaman, who can cure people, talk with supernatural spirits. Gansukh gives advices and looks into the future for a good payment. He is supported by a very small political group (For The Better Future of Mongolia Party), and stands as a candidate in the north district of Mongolia, near the Hovsgol Lake.

He made a three-week-campaign with his family in the almost uninhabited countryside, and he hoped that people will vote for his honest and naive ideas. Finally the “medicine man” sacked in only 17 from the potential 80.000 votes. By the way: the democratic elections in Mongolia ended with riots, turmoil and street fights in Ulanbaatar spurred by the dissatisfied voters.

Opening speech by Tibor Kovacsy. Article on HVG.hu. Article from MTI (national news agency).

(Shot in digital.)