Chapter 21: Cabinet Appointments

The next morning, under the watchful eyes of various Spanish officials, Carlos held the Spanish Constitution and announced his coronation as King of Spain, styling himself King Carlos I of Spain.

Subsequently, Primo led the various government officials in swearing allegiance to Carlos, and the framework of the Kingdom of Spain was formally established.

According to the current Spanish Constitution, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Kingdom Government stand as three separate powers, representing legislative, judicial, and executive power, respectively.

As for Carlos, as the King of Spain, he nominally possesses the power to appoint and dismiss the Prime Minister and high-ranking officials, to convene or dissolve the parliament, to mobilize the military, to enact or repeal laws, to listen to state affairs, and to convene cabinet meetings.

But in reality, the only power Carlos can currently exercise is listening to state affairs and convening cabinet meetings.

These two matters can be viewed as one: Carlos can use cabinet meetings to understand the current situation in Spain and the development of various policies, and that is all.

Although Carlos can also offer his own opinions, whether the cabinet government led by Primo will listen is another matter.

However, this situation is not absolute; the nominal King of Spain still possesses a great deal of power. Once Carlos cultivates enough prestige for himself and wins the trust of the people and some officials, he will still be able to influence the government through the power in his hands, thereby achieving the policies or laws he wishes to enact.

Before having sufficient prestige and status, Carlos can also be content to be a king without much power; at least the responsibilities will not be dumped on his head.

Carlos's coronation ceremony was scheduled for November, which is about two and a half months away.

Such an arrangement is quite beneficial; the Spanish government can have enough time to prepare for this coronation ceremony, and foreign guests will also have enough time to come to Spain.

Of course, Spain is, after all, only a second-rate European country, and the King's coronation ceremony may not necessarily attract the attention of those great powers, except for neighboring countries like Italy and France.

However, considering the factor that Prussia and France are still at war, it is highly probable that these two countries will not send representatives to attend.

A little later, in the conference room of the Madrid Royal Palace.

"Prime Minister Primo, is the list for the cabinet government ready?" Carlos sat in the main seat and asked with a smile toward Primo, who had arrived travel-worn.

"It is ready, Your Majesty." Primo nodded and respectfully handed over a list.

"Since Your Majesty has already sworn the 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?" Primo asked.

The reason Serrano became Regent was entirely because the Spanish throne was vacant at the time, which led to the position of Regent.

Since Carlos has already arrived in Spain and been crowned, continuing to have a regent would be a sign of disrespect to Carlos.

Historically, Serrano became the Prime Minister of Spain after Amadeo's coronation, but that was because Primo had been assassinated.

Now that Primo is still alive and well, the position of Prime Minister is naturally not very suitable for Serrano.

Considering that there are no positions in the cabinet government suitable for Serrano other than Minister of Defense, this question actually had an answer from the beginning.

"Let Duke Serrano serve as Minister of Defense," Carlos said. "At the same time, he will serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. I am very at ease handing the military over to a general like Duke Serrano."

Serrano's own resume is quite impressive. He joined the army at the age of 12, participated in more than a dozen wars of various sizes, was awarded the rank of Marshal at the age of 46, and was ennobled as the Duke of La Torre for his merits in occupying the Dominican Republic.

So many merits of various sizes could not have been achieved by a mediocre person, which in some respects also proves that Serrano himself possesses excellent military command capabilities.

Hearing Carlos say this, Primo also nodded, expressing his agreement.

Although this is the only position in the current government suitable for Serrano, Primo did not directly write Serrano's name in the column for Minister of Defense, but instead symbolically asked for Carlos's opinion.

After all, Carlos has become the King of Spain, and at least on the surface, he must be given sufficient respect.

Carlos also understood this point and was quite pleased with Primo's superficial show of respect. This also indicates that Primo himself is not opposed to the monarchy; like Serrano, what he opposes are those monarchs who have no ability but still want to hold all power.

After signing the cabinet list for the Spanish government, Carlos looked back at Primo and asked the question he cared about most: "Prime Minister Primo, when can the next cabinet meeting be held?"

"According to the schedule of holding a cabinet meeting once a week, the next meeting should be in three days, Your Majesty," Primo replied.

Primo did not care that Carlos wanted to attend the cabinet meeting; after all, this is also Carlos's right. But if Carlos wanted to express some of his own opinions in the cabinet meeting just after arriving in Spain, Primo would also pretend not to hear them.

After all, no matter how talented a person is, they must first understand the situation in Spain, right? If one expresses opinions without understanding any situation, what use are these opinions to Spain?

"I will attend the cabinet meeting in three days, Prime Minister Primo." Hearing that the cabinet meeting was in three days, Carlos said straightforwardly, "I hope to see detailed information about Spain during this time to understand what level our country is actually at.

Please rest assured, before I have sufficient understanding, I will not interfere with Spain's policies in any way. Prime Minister Primo, you can begin your preparations for reform; I will support you unconditionally, and I will state my position at the meeting."

Primo nodded. With Carlos's statement of unconditional support for reform, he did not care about any suggestions Carlos might make at the cabinet meeting.

After all, suggestions are just suggestions; whether to listen or not depends on Primo himself.

And Carlos's firm attitude of supporting reform can actually help Primo, which is very helpful for improving the current situation in Spain.

Ironically, Primo and Serrano, who overthrew Queen Isabella II of Spain, can actually be classified as part of the Royalist faction.

Although Primo's loyalty to Spain is higher than his loyalty to the King, as long as the King does not harm Spain's interests, Primo remains loyal to the King.

Even if only for the sake of Spain's unification, Primo would not sideline the King. Because only as Carlos's prestige and status become higher and higher will the various regions of Spain submit to the King's rule and listen to the government's management.

If the various regions are unwilling to submit to the King's rule, Spain will become increasingly chaotic, and the various regions will seek autonomy or even independence, which is also fatal for Spain.

Primo's support for the monarchy also has this reason. The current loose republican system 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 walk out of the abyss of division and autonomy and reshape a unified and powerful Kingdom of Spain.

Second update, asking for support!

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(End of chapter)