Chapter 21: Cabinet Selections
The next morning, Carlo, under the gaze of Spain’s various officials, held the Spanish Constitution and announced his coronation as King of Spain, taking the title King Carlo I.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Primó led the government’s various officials in swearing loyalty to Carlo, and the framework of the Kingdom of Spain was formally established.
According to the current Spanish Constitution, the House of Representatives, Senate, and Kingdom government stand as three separate powers, respectively representing legislative power, judicial power, and executive power.
As for Carlo, as King of Spain, he nominally possesses the power to appoint and remove the Prime Minister and senior officials, open or dissolve the Council, mobilize the army, promulgate or abolish laws, listen to state affairs, and convene cabinet meetings.
But in reality, the power Carlo can currently use is just to listen to state affairs and convene cabinet meetings.
These two things can be combined into one: that is, Carlo can understand Spain’s current situation and various policy developments through cabinet meetings, and that’s it.
Although Carlo can also offer his own opinions, whether the cabinet government headed by Prime Minister Primó will listen is uncertain.
However, this situation is not absolute; the nominal King of Spain still has a great deal of power. Once Carlo cultivates sufficient prestige for himself and wins the trust of the public and some officials, he can still influence the government through the power in his hands, thereby achieving the policies or laws he wants to enact.
Before having sufficient prestige and status, Carlo can safely be a king with not much power; at least the responsibility won’t fall on his head.
Carlo’s coronation ceremony was scheduled for November, which is about two and a half months later.
This arrangement is still very beneficial; the Spanish Government can have enough time to prepare for this coronation ceremony, and foreign guests can also have enough time to come to Spain.
Of course, Spain is after all just a second-rate country in Europe, and the king’s coronation ceremony may not attract the attention of those great powers, aside from neighboring countries like Italy and France.
However, considering the factor that Prussia and France are still at war, these two countries probably won’t dispatch representatives to attend.
A little later, in the Madrid Royal Palace conference room.
“Prime Minister Primó, is the list for the cabinet government ready?” Carlo sat in the main seat, smiling as he asked Prime Minister Primó, who had hurried over covered in dust.
“It’s ready, Your Majesty.” Prime Minister Primó nodded and respectfully handed over a list.
“Since Your Majesty has already sworn coronation under the constitution, it is no longer appropriate for Mr. Serrano to continue as Regent. Your Majesty, do you have any arrangements for Mr. Serrano?” Prime Minister Primó inquired.
The reason Serrano became Regent was entirely because the Spanish throne was vacant at the time, which created the position of Regent.
Since Carlo has already come to Spain and been crowned, continuing to be involved in politics would be disrespectful to Carlo.
In history, Serrano became Prime Minister of Spain after Amadeo’s coronation, but that was because Prime Minister Primó had been assassinated.
Now Prime Minister Primó is still alive and well, so the position of Prime Minister is naturally not suitable for Serrano.
Considering that in the cabinet government, aside from Minister of Defense, there is no other position particularly suitable for Serrano, this question actually had an answer from the beginning.
“Have Duke Serrano serve as Minister of Defense,” Carlo said. “At the same time, appoint him as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. I feel very reassured handing the army over to a general like Duke Serrano.”
Serrano’s own resume is still very impressive. He joined the army at age 12, participated in more than a dozen wars big and small, was awarded the rank of Marshal at age 46, and was granted the title of Duke of La Torre for his merit in occupying the Dominican Republic.
So many merits big and small are not something a mediocre person could obtain; this also proves in certain aspects that Serrano himself possesses excellent military command ability.
Hearing Carlo say this, Prime Minister Primó also nodded, expressing his agreement.
Although currently in the government, the only position suitable for Serrano is this one, Prime Minister Primó did not directly write Serrano’s name in the Minister of Defense column, but symbolically asked for Carlo’s opinion.
After all, Carlo has become King of Spain; at least on the surface, he must be given full respect.
Carlo also understands this and is quite pleased with Prime Minister Primó’s superficial respect. This also indicates that Prime Minister Primó himself is not opposed to monarchy; like Serrano, what he opposes are those monarchs who lack ability yet insist on wielding sole power.
After signing this list for the Spanish Government’s cabinet, Carlo turned his gaze back to Prime Minister Primó and asked the question he cared about most: “Prime Minister Primó, when can the next cabinet meeting be held?”
“According to the schedule of one cabinet meeting per week, the next one should be in three days, Your Majesty,” Prime Minister Primó answered.
Prime Minister Primó doesn’t mind Carlo wanting to attend the cabinet meeting, as it is indeed Carlo’s right. But if Carlo, having just arrived in Spain, wants to express some of his own opinions at the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Primó will pretend not to hear them.
After all, even the most talented person needs to first understand Spain’s situation, right? Offering opinions without understanding any situation—what use would they be to Spain?
“I want to attend the cabinet meeting in three days, Prime Minister Primó,” Carlo said straightforwardly upon hearing that the cabinet meeting is in three days. “I hope to see detailed information about Spain during this time, to understand what level our country is really at.
Rest assured, before I have sufficient understanding, I will not interfere in any of Spain’s policies. Prime Minister Primó, you can begin preparing your reforms; I will support you unconditionally, and I will state this at the meeting.”
Prime Minister Primó nodded. With Carlo’s statement of unconditional support for reforms, he no longer cared about any suggestions Carlo might make at the cabinet meeting.
After all, suggestions are just suggestions; whether to listen is up to Prime Minister Primó himself.
And Carlo’s firm attitude in support of reform can actually help Prime Minister Primó, which is very helpful for improving Spain’s current situation.
Ironically, Prime Minister Primó and Serrano, who overthrew Queen Isabel II of Spain, can actually both be classified as belonging to the Royalist Party.
Although Prime Minister Primó’s loyalty to Spain is higher than to the king, as long as the king does not harm Spain’s interests, Prime Minister Primó remains loyal to the king.
Even if just for the unification of Spain, Prime Minister Primó would not sideline the king. Because only as Carlo’s prestige and status grow higher and higher will the various regions of Spain obey the king’s rule and follow the government’s management.
If the various places are unwilling to obey the king’s rule, Spain will become increasingly chaotic, and the regions will seek regional autonomy or even independence, which is also fatal for Spain.
Prime Minister Primó supports monarchy for these reasons as well. The current loose republicanism cannot save Spain at all; instead, it will push Spain into the abyss of division and regional autonomy.
Only a unified and highly centralized Kingdom government can help Spain escape the abyss of division and autonomy, and reshape a unified and powerful Kingdom of Spain.
Second update, seeking support!
