Empire Rise: Spain

Chapter 135: Rectifying The Bureaucracy

Since the end of the Franco-Prussian War, European countries have entered a relatively stable development phase.

All countries have recognized their own shortcomings and are currently desperately carrying out reforms and improvements. From history, it can also be known that this period coincides exactly with the time when emerging industrial nations led by Germany and the United States continuously rise, ultimately surpassing old great powers like Britain and France in the industrial aspect.

Did the British abandon their efforts during this period, crazily giving up and allowing Germany and the United States to surpass them?

No. The British industry and economy also grew a lot during this period, and the main reason is still the scale limitation of the British mainland, which limits the upper ceiling of Britain.

Britain’s power comes from promoting the First Industrial Revolution plus colonizing nearly half the world. Without such vast colonies, Britain might not necessarily surpass Germany.

The German region has been one of Europe’s hegemons since the Holy Roman Empire period, but domestic states had numerous factions and constant wars, which is the reason why the German region did not produce a top great power.

Now the German region is tending toward unification, and Germany’s development is already unstoppable by any country. When all German states are combined, the territory and population they possess exceed those of Britain and France, which is also one of the fundamentals of Germany’s power.

Although countries with a lot of population are not necessarily powerful, powerful countries must have a lot of population. The reason later European countries gradually decline, even needing the European Union to contend with great powers like the United States, is precisely because the population of individual European countries has far fallen short of strong powers like the United States.

The reason is also easy to understand. More population means more labor, and more labor means faster economic expansion speed. Between two countries with the same industrial and economic scale, the one with more population will have greater development potential.

Before extremely advanced technology replaces manual labor, population is one of the standards for measuring a country’s power, and it is a relatively strict standard. The good news is that Spain’s population growth rate, which had stagnated for several years, has finally begun to steadily increase.

Only 6 months have passed in 1872, but Spain’s population has already grown by at least 150,000, approaching the increase for the entire previous year.

Although there is no precise figure for Spain’s total population, it can currently be confirmed that Spain’s population has officially broken through 17 million, approximately between 05 million and 1 million.

If this good population growth momentum can be maintained this year, it is expected that by the end of the year, Spain’s population will break through 2 million.

Compared to great power countries, such population is naturally not much. But for Spain itself, achieving a relatively good population growth amplitude also proves that the efforts of the Spanish Government have not been in vain.

The main reason affecting population growth is still the growth of per capita income in Spain.

Actually, thinking about it, it’s normal. Only when the public can eat their fill and survive will they consider having children.

If they themselves cannot survive, having a child would not only add to their own burden but also let the child live a life worse than death.

The population birth rate can largely measure the happiness index of a country’s public life, because the unfortunate will not consider having children at all.

Although Spain is not excellent in this aspect, compared to the previous government, it has already made considerable progress.

As time reaches July 1872, the spring breeze of reform has finally blown into the Spanish Government.

Regarding internal government reform, Prime Minister Primó has only two opinions: simplify government departments, reduce the number of government office staff and monitor corruption, and improve government efficiency.

Corruption exists in every country, and corrupt governments always breed corruption, which no political system or country can avoid.

Although the current Spanish Government was established after the revolution, this revolution did not have too deep an impact on the regional governments.

The main impact was on the Spanish Cabinet Government, and it is very difficult for these officials of the Cabinet Government to engage in corruption.

After all, there is Prime Minister Primó above them, and an even more powerful parliament supervising. But for state governments and municipal governments, it is still easy to engage in corruption.

Spain’s annual fiscal budget is limited, so it is naturally impossible to waste part of it on corrupt officials and scoundrels.

However, to avoid causing deeper impact on the government, Prime Minister Primó still decides to let bygones be bygones for past corruption, and focus on supervising future corruption.

In addition to focusing on regulating government corruption, Prime Minister Primó also promulgated a decree, ordering regional and municipal governments to appropriately reduce the number of officials.

Some regional government officials are too numerous, with some completely freeloading. Moreover, Spanish officials’ income is generally higher than that of ordinary people, so it is better to clear these people out early.

Carlo is naturally willing to see the government pay attention to supervising corrupt and embezzling officials. Carlo currently cannot manage these, so it is of course best if Prime Minister Primó takes the initiative to supervise corruption.

To make Spain’s governments at all levels more honest and efficient, after careful consideration, Carlo also recommended to Prime Minister Primó the establishment of legislation on official performance appraisal.

Carlo did not explain in detail; the specific legislation still needs to be formulated by Prime Minister Primó himself.

The specific provisions are also very simple: conduct various assessments on them according to the different responsibilities of officials at all levels of government.

Those who pass will accumulate political achievements, and meeting certain political achievements will meet the conditions for promotion. Conversely, if political achievements are too poor, they must be prepared for demotion or even direct dismissal.

However, doing so will definitely offend a large number of officials, after all, they are doing well in their current positions and may not be willing to be passively moved.

Therefore, it is better for such legislation to be submitted and promulgated by Prime Minister Primó himself; Carlo does not plan to participate too much.

Prime Minister Primó does not oppose this either. Such a method can still effectively improve officials’ administrative efficiency and also achieve the purpose of supervising officials.

Although it will offend some mediocre freeloading officials, these people are nothing but harmful to the Spanish Government, so it is better to eliminate them early.

Offending people is nothing serious for Prime Minister Primó. Reform has already offended a large number of forces, so what does adding one more matter?

Because he quite recognizes the performance appraisal system proposed by Carlo, a few days later, Prime Minister Primó personally submitted a draft of the 《Official Performance Appraisal Act》 to parliament.

The reason for submitting it personally is also due to the importance attached to rectifying officialdom.

Only if Prime Minister Primó submits such legislation personally can it attract the attention of those officials, thereby achieving the effect of actively rectifying officialdom.

If anyone still thinks Prime Minister Primó is just going through the motions, when the knife of integrity is placed on their necks, it will no longer be up to them.

In the draft of this legislation, Prime Minister Primó divides the Spanish Government into three levels: national government, regional governments, and municipal governments, all included in the performance appraisal scope.

Officials of the three levels of government who perform excellently can be exceptionally promoted to higher-level governments. Those who fail will be lightly demoted and punished, or heavily directly dismissed from their official positions.

Considering that this appraisal legislation involves a large number of officials, the appraisal content will not be overly harsh.

Basically, as long as officials complete matters within their own responsibilities, they can get above-qualified evaluations. If they achieve certain political achievements, they will get above-excellent evaluations to prepare for promotion.

And those officials who cannot even handle matters within their own responsibilities, leaving them in their positions will only have a negative impact on the country.

For current Spanish officials, there are many ways they can add political achievements. For example, promoting local economic and industrial development, reducing illiteracy rate, promoting literacy education, promoting ethnic integration, or even developing population, all can increase their political achievements.

As long as there is even a tiny bit of contribution, achieving qualified level is not difficult.

The main purpose of doing so is still to eliminate corrupt elements and incompetent officials. Anyone with even a tiny bit of ability would not fail to achieve any merit.

According to Spain’s constitution, parliament has appointment and removal rights over governments at all levels. So as long as this legislation is passed by parliament, performance appraisal for the three levels of government can be smoothly implemented.

This proposal caused an uproar in parliament, and even members of parliament who originally supported Prime Minister Primó hesitated somewhat.

Such an appraisal system is unprecedented and will break the long-maintained system in Spanish officialdom of appointment by nobility and seniority first.

A large number of nobles can easily obtain quite good official positions by virtue of their bloodline, and old foxes in officialdom can also compete for high positions by virtue of their seniority.

And those truly capable rarely obtain nobility titles and official positions through their own efforts; for commoners, besides emigrating, the only path seems to be like Prime Minister Primó, gaining identity and status through revolution.

The new official performance appraisal system completely breaks Spain’s original bureaucratic system, shifting from valuing bloodline and prestige more to valuing individual ability more.

From the national level, this is of course a progress. Only if these officials rack their brains to create political achievements can Spain’s economy and industry advance rapidly under their efforts.

If these officials of regions and cities themselves do not have much enthusiasm for economic and industrial growth, how can Spain’s comprehensive national strength advance rapidly?

By linking national economic and industrial progress, including some decrees promulgated by the Cabinet Government, to these officials’ political achievements, even if not for national development, they will strive for their personal interests, for their political achievements and higher official positions.

There is a clear difference between doing it passively and doing it actively; for current Spain, it urgently needs some more passionate and dynamic young officials to change the pattern of officialdom.

“Prime Minister, is your legislation too radical?” A member of parliament raised opposition, clearly dissatisfied with the content of the legislation submitted by Prime Minister Primó: “

This completely breaks Spain’s previous bureaucratic system. Can I think that this will cause a severe impact on Spain’s existing bureaucratic system and cause a large number of officials to lose their original jobs.”

“I admit what you said is right.” Prime Minister Primó nodded calmly in the face of the questioning, then countered: “But why not?

Rather than letting those do-nothing guys continue to stay in high positions in regional and municipal governments, it is better to let capable and motivated young men take such positions.

Or are you willing to abandon Spain’s future development for your position?”

Prime Minister Primó’s questioning immediately made the member of parliament who raised the opposition sweat on his forehead, waving his hands repeatedly and hurriedly explaining: “I am not willing to abandon Spain’s future development, but just worried that such legislation will impact the existing bureaucratic system and destroy the stability that Spain has barely maintained.”

“No need to worry about this.” Prime Minister Primó said with a playful smile on his face, meaningfully: “This legislation is a must for Spain’s reform and concerns the success or failure of the reform.

Gentlemen, are you willing to see those unwilling to contribute to the country standing in important positions in regional and municipal governments?

For Spain, we are willing to endure any pain. Only by letting those truly willing to strive for Spain’s revival take important positions can Spain’s revival become reality, rather than just our dream.

All fluctuations caused by the legislation are temporary; the impact on Spain is long-term. For the future of a stronger Spain, I believe we can tolerate temporary pain in exchange for the opportunity for Spain to become stronger.”

After Prime Minister Primó’s persuasion, reformist members of parliament also expressed their support for this legislation.

After all, most reformists are young people with ideals, ambitions, and certain abilities. Their voice in the political arena is not high; this legislation not only will not affect them but will become a weapon for them to rise in officialdom.

Actually, seniority-based promotion is common in officialdom of various countries, after all, everyone is willing to trust officials who appear more mature rather than a fledgling hot-blooded youth.

For other jobs, twenties to thirties is the time of peak energy. But for government department work, thirties to forties is still too young, and forties to fifties is the most mature golden age for a politician.

Prime ministers of various countries are generally old men in their forties to fifties or even fifties to sixties, because only then can they convince officials and the public of various countries.

Actually, in terms of prime ministers and important government departments, the harm of seniority is not that great. But in regional and municipal governments, the harm of seniority is still quite significant.

If older officials do not move from their positions, the younger generation cannot rise. Currently in Spain’s regions and municipal governments, only a small portion of young officials under 30, most are middle-aged officials over

A large portion of these people are conservatives, and when facing reform decrees promulgated by the Spanish Government, even if they do not openly oppose much, they will hinder the passage of decrees in various ways behind the scenes.

Failure of decrees to pass is Spain’s biggest problem currently. Decrees promulgated by the kingdom government are difficult to implement smoothly and quickly in regional governments.

The solution to this problem is also simple: replace those rigid conservative officials with young officials who support reform.

These promoted young officials, to keep their positions and advance further, will support reform more, which will naturally more effectively promote Spain’s reform.

The reform of every country is extremely difficult because reform needs to confront entitled beneficiaries and some rigid conservatives existing within the country.

Regardless of whether they are willing to be loyal to the kingdom government, as long as they hinder the promotion of Spain’s reform, this problem must eventually be dealt with.

“Prime Minister, I do not oppose the implementation of this decree. But I have a question: if we implement performance-priority official appointment and removal, will it make some officials go to extremes for their own political achievements?

Also, how can we ensure the loyalty of these officials promoted by political achievements to the government? If they are not loyal to the government, promoting them will also harm the country.” Another official raised his question, but compared to the previous direct opposition, this one is obviously much milder.

“This is also simple.” Prime Minister Primó nodded and gave his answer: “Regarding performance appraisal, parliament can take full responsibility and establish corresponding institutions for official performance appraisal.

Those who falsify in performance will have their performance abolished and given the worst result in appraisal. What we need is political achievements that can truly improve Spain’s livelihood and economic industrial development, not falsified scores by officials for their own interests.

Secondly, official appraisals can also add requirements for political ideology. All Spanish officials must be officials who love this country; I do not want those without affection for the country to take high government positions.

This aspect can even set certain appraisals to ensure our officials have excellent abilities and loyal thoughts.”

This is something Prime Minister Primó had already thought of. Although individual ability is relatively important in the new performance appraisal system, it does not mean abandoning appraisal of officials’ personal character and ideology.

An official with great ability, if his ideology has problems, will harm the country.

Wrong ideology lightly produces corruption, heavily betrays the country and government; either choice will cause huge harm to Spain.

Prime Minister Primó is unwilling for the officials screened by the performance appraisal system to fall into the vortex of corruption again, or even worse, directly betray the country and government.

Five thousand word two-in-one chapter, seeking support!