Cabinet Candidates

Early the next morning, before the watchful eyes of Spain's officials, Carlo held the Spanish Constitution and declared his coronation as King of Spain, taking the title of Carlo I, King of Spain.

Afterward, Primo led the government officials in swearing allegiance to Carlo, and the framework of the Kingdom of Spain was formally established.

Under the current Spanish Constitution, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Kingdom Government stood as three separate powers, representing legislative, judicial, and executive authority respectively.

As for Carlo, as King of Spain, he nominally possessed the right to appoint and dismiss prime ministers and senior officials, convene or dissolve the legislature, mobilize the army, enact or repeal laws, hear matters of state, and call Cabinet Meetings.

But in reality, the only powers Carlo could currently exercise were hearing matters of state and calling Cabinet Meetings.

These two matters could be regarded as one: through Cabinet Meetings, Carlo could learn about Spain's current situation and the development of its various policies. That was all.

Although Carlo could also offer his own opinions, whether the Cabinet Government led by Primo would listen was another matter entirely.

Yet this situation was not absolute. The King of Spain still possessed extensive powers in name. Once Carlo cultivated sufficient prestige for himself and won the trust of the people and some officials, he would still be able to use the powers in his hands to influence the government and achieve the policies or laws he wished to establish.

Before gaining sufficient prestige and standing, Carlo could also calmly remain a king without much real power. At the very least, responsibility would not be dumped onto his head.

Carlo's coronation ceremony was scheduled for November, roughly two and a half months later.

This arrangement had its advantages. The Spanish government would have enough time to prepare for the coronation ceremony, while foreign guests would also have sufficient time to travel to Spain.

Of course, Spain was ultimately only a second-rate European nation. Its king's coronation ceremony might not necessarily attract the attention of the Great Powers, aside from neighboring countries such as Italy and France.

However, considering that Prussia and France were still at war, neither country would most likely send representatives to attend.

A little later, inside a meeting room at the Royal Palace of Madrid.

"Prime Minister Primo, has the Cabinet Government list been prepared?" Carlo sat at the head of the table and smiled as he questioned the travel-worn Primo, who had hurried over.

"It has been prepared, Your Majesty." Primo nodded and respectfully handed over a list.

"Now that Your Majesty has sworn under the Constitution and been crowned, it would be inappropriate for Mr. Serrano to continue serving as regent. Your Majesty, what arrangements do you have for Mr. Serrano?" Primo asked.

Serrano had become regent entirely because the Spanish throne had been left hanging in the balance at the time, which was why such a position had existed.

Now that Carlo had arrived in Spain and been crowned, continuing to have a regent would be disrespectful to Carlo.

Historically, Serrano had become Spain's prime minister after Amadeo's coronation, but that had been because Primo suffered an assassination attempt.

Now that Primo was still alive and well, the position of prime minister was naturally not particularly suitable for Serrano.

Considering that there was no position in the Cabinet Government suitable for Serrano apart from Minister of Defense, the answer to this question had actually been clear from the very beginning.

"Have Duke Serrano serve as Minister of Defense," Carlo said. "He will also concurrently serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Army. I can rest easy entrusting the military to a commander such as Duke Serrano."

Serrano's own record was quite illustrious. He had joined the army at the age of twelve, participated in more than ten wars large and small, been granted the rank of marshal at forty-six, and been elevated to Duke of Dela Torre for his achievement in occupying Dominica.

Such a long list of achievements, great and small, could not have been earned by an ordinary man. In some respects, it also proved that Serrano possessed outstanding military command ability.

Upon hearing Carlo's words, Primo nodded as well, expressing his agreement.

Although there was currently only one position in the government suitable for Serrano, Primo had not directly written Serrano's name in the Minister of Defense column. Instead, he had symbolically sought Carlo's opinion.

After all, Carlo had already become King of Spain. At the very least, he had to be shown sufficient respect on the surface.

Carlo understood this as well, and he found Primo's outward show of respect quite satisfying. It also meant that Primo himself did not oppose the monarchy. Like Serrano, what he opposed were monarchs with no real ability who still insisted on monopolizing power.

After signing the Spanish government's Cabinet list, Carlo turned his gaze back to Primo and asked the question that concerned him most. "Prime Minister Primo, when can the next Cabinet Meeting be held?"

"Based on the schedule of holding one Cabinet Meeting a week, the next meeting should be in three days, Your Majesty," Primo replied.

Primo did not mind Carlo wanting to attend the Cabinet Meeting, since that was Carlo's right. But if Carlo had only just arrived in Spain and wanted to express opinions of his own during the Cabinet Meeting, Primo would simply pretend not to hear them.

After all, no matter how talented someone was, he first had to understand Spain's circumstances, did he not? If he voiced opinions without understanding anything at all, what use would those opinions be to Spain?

"I will attend the Cabinet Meeting in three days, Prime Minister Primo." Hearing that the Cabinet Meeting was only three days away, Carlo came straight to the point. "I hope to see detailed information about Spain during this time, so I can understand exactly what level our country is at.

Please rest assured. Before I have sufficient understanding, I will not interfere with Spain's policies in any way. Prime Minister Primo, you may begin preparing your reforms. I will support you unconditionally, and I will make my position clear at the meeting."

Primo nodded. With Carlo's declaration of unconditional support for reform, he no longer cared about any suggestions Carlo might make at the Cabinet Meeting.

After all, a suggestion was only a suggestion. Whether to heed it would still depend on Primo himself.

Carlo's firm support for reform, meanwhile, could offer Primo practical help. This would be greatly beneficial in improving Spain's current situation.

Ironically, Primo and Serrano, who had overthrown Queen Isabella II of Spain, could both actually be considered part of the Monarchist Party.

Although Primo's loyalty to Spain surpassed his loyalty to the king, so long as the king did not harm Spain's interests, Primo would still remain loyal to him.

Even if only for Spain's unity, Primo would not hollow out the king's authority. Only when Carlo's prestige and standing grew ever higher would Spain's various regions submit to the king's rule and obey the government's administration.

If every region became unwilling to submit to the king's rule, Spain would grow increasingly chaotic, and its regions would seek autonomy or even independence. That would be fatal for Spain as well.

Primo supported the monarchy for this reason too. The current loose republic simply could not save Spain; instead, it would push Spain into the abyss of division and regional autonomy.

Only a unified and highly centralized Kingdom Government could help Spain climb out of the abyss of division and autonomy, reshaping a united and powerful Kingdom of Spain.

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