Was the first Five-Year Plan led by Prime Minister Prim successful?

This is a question that requires no thought at all; of course, it was highly successful.

Judging by the results achieved by the Five-Year Plan, Spain has transformed from an agricultural country into an agricultural-industrial nation.

What does this mean? Although agriculture remains Spain’s pillar industry, the industrial sector has also grown considerably in scale.

Currently, the number of workers across Spain has reached hundreds of thousands and continues to grow. The increase in the workforce has effectively raised the country’s per capita annual income, and the increase in wages is why people are satisfied with the Primor Government.

Behind the nearly 2 billion Pesseta increase in the Spanish economy, the per capita annual income also rose from 87 Pessetas in 1869 to around 115 Pessetas by the end of 1873, which is what ordinary Spaniards can see.

It is because of these contributions that as long as Prime Minister Prim continues to run for election, his re-election is a foregone conclusion and cannot be prevented by anyone.

However, at this time, Spain’s political landscape has changed significantly compared to five years ago.

At the time of the first Cabinet Government elections after the revolution, the choice of the King of Spain had not been determined. Prim successfully ousted Serrano and became the Prime Minister of the first Cabinet Government, thanks to his prestigious reputation in the Revolutionary Army and the political arena.

But now, the second Cabinet Government election is more complex than the first.

Carlo has consolidated the Royalist Party, composed of aristocratic and conservative forces, and the throne has become quite secure.

In such a scenario, even if Carlo cannot interfere with Prime Minister Prim’s continued re-election, he can reasonably demand more power.

Whether a power struggle or even a conflict will erupt between the now mature Carlo and Prime Minister Prim is the issue that concerns members of parliament the most.

But no matter what the members of parliament think, the atmosphere between Prime Minister Prim and Carlo at this moment appears quite harmonious.

After Prime Minister Prim conducted a brief summary report, it was then the turn of each minister to give their detailed annual departmental report.

With the summary report from Prime Minister Prim serving as a preemptive measure, although the members of parliament were somewhat shocked by the performance of each department in the Five-Year Plan, it was not so incredible.

The lack of good development in Spain previously was not due to a lack of potential or heritage but rather because Queen Isabel of Spain and the Kingdom Government’s Prime Minister did not give it enough attention.

The upper echelons of Spain sought only pleasure and enjoyment, so naturally, officials did not pay much attention to economic and industrial development, which created a vicious cycle. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Under Prime Minister Prim’s leadership, the Spanish Government expressed a high level of commitment to economic and industrial development. Coupled with the prior implementation of the exam-performance assessment bill for officials, it has made officials at all levels start to value industrial and economic development genuinely.

After all, industrial development and economic growth are linked to their performance, which in turn relates to their future prospects.

With these interconnected factors, it is only natural for Spain to achieve good development in its industry and economy.

As long as the Cabinet Government properly manages the highest level of control, ensuring that Spain’s development is practical and effective—and not just for show with superficial glory projects—it will suffice.

This government’s annual work report meeting is over, but for the political scene in Spain, the truly lively events are just beginning.

As time moves into 1874, Spain is also set to welcome a very important year.

Although the Cabinet election is conducted in February, January already exudes an atmosphere of heated Cabinet elections in Spain.

Although the Cabinet Government election has nothing to do with most of the populace, the media will not miss out on the hottest news item. From the first day of the New Year, January 1, newspaper vendors were shouting headlines through the streets of Madrid, drawing people to stop and read.

Although the Cabinet election attracted much public attention, those with insight knew that as long as Prime Minister Prim confirmed his candidacy, the position of Prime Minister of the Cabinet would have nothing to do with anyone else.

January 12, 1874, inside the Madrid Royal Palace.

Although Carlo had no actions, this did not mean that the Royalist Party forces and the nobles supporting Carlo had no thoughts at all.

Since the Spanish Revolution, Prime Minister Prim has held power for five years. The nobility, being Spain’s largest class, could not possibly have no objections.

Just because Carlo has always supported Prime Minister Prim’s reforms and the stability of the Spanish monarchy was shaky at the time, the existence of the nobility itself was a question, allowing Spain to remain peaceful until now.

But now things are different. Carlo’s royal power is quite stable and even poses a threat to Prime Minister Prim’s political authority. In such a situation, it is only natural for the nobility to want to use Carlo to achieve their own goals, at least to ensure the nobility has the power they should rightfully have, right?

Today, the Madrid Royal Palace was particularly lively. These nobles seemed to have made a pact, arriving together to seek an audience with Carlo.

The nobles seeking an audience today are generally high-ranking nobles like Dukes and above, and Carlo naturally could not refuse to see them.

"Your Majesty!" A group of Grand Dukes and Dukes arrived at the reception hall of the Royal Palace with great momentum, appearing very respectful as they paid their respects to Carlo.