Make France Great Again

"This concludes all the expenditures of France for the fiscal year 1849-1850!"

Prime Minister Opler, with a calm tone, reported all the expenditures and then stood at the podium in a standard military posture, waiting for the Republican Faction members to question the parliamentary expenditures.

Below the stage, "Social Democratic Faction" members whispered to each other, and the once silent Legislative Assembly became noisy again.

Standing on the stage, Opler looked down at the "Social Democratic Faction" members with a complex expression. Having served as Prime Minister for almost a year, he had not truly faced the national assembly. This was his first battle, and it would also be his last; he had to bring his term as Prime Minister to a satisfactory end.

However, the "Social Democratic Faction" members below did not seem eager to rush and question Opler until Speaker Du Ban struck his gavel and cleared his throat to remind, "Gentlemen, please keep track of the time!"

After some commotion, the "Social Democratic Faction" finally chose Jean-Baptiste to act as the representative for questioning.

"Mr. Prime Minister, I have a question I would like to ask you!" Jean-Baptiste spoke without a hint of aggression, as if sincerely seeking an answer from another friend.

"Please, go ahead!" Opler involuntarily straightened up, his rounded abdomen slightly trembling with the motion, drawing a shared chuckle among the members below at the amusing sight.

"I recall that when Audion Barrot held the position of Prime Minister last year, the fiscal budget of the French Republic was around fifteen billion francs, correct?" Jean-Baptiste directed his gaze to Audion Barrot on the side of the Elysée Palace Faction, with other "Social Democratic Faction" members also turning their attention to Audion Barrot.

Faced with Jean-Baptiste's sudden inquiry, the battle-hardened Audion Barrot did not immediately respond with a "yes" or "no," but instead said indifferently, "That was already a year ago; how could I remember it so clearly?"

With that, Audion Barrot took out a handkerchief to wipe his monocle, exuding an indifferent attitude.

Despite Audion Barrot's evasiveness, Jean-Baptiste felt a slight sense of disappointment.

If he could successfully create discord between Audion Barrot and the Bonaparte Faction, it would undoubtedly be favorable.

Unfortunately, no opportunity had presented itself. Bastide watched as Prime Minister Opler calmly provided the data: "Though Audion Barrot may not recall, I still remember the figures from back then. Last year, when Audion Barrot served as Prime Minister, he reported to the assembly that the annual expenditure was approximately fifteen billion three hundred million francs. How is it that in just one year, France has overspent by over a billion francs?"

Jean-Baptiste's tone turned increasingly aggressive as he continued, "Is it due to the government's unchecked spending leading to expenses exceeding its revenue, or are there other reasons? Mr. Prime Minister, I demand a reasonable explanation!"

Prime Minister Opler was initially taken aback by Jean-Baptiste's inquiry, but quickly reorganized his thoughts and assertively responded, "Mr. Bastide, all our expenditures follow the principle of 'achieving a faster and more stable economic recovery.' In my view, increasing fiscal expenditure is not a bad thing, but rather a good thing!"

"Oh? A good thing! Mr. Prime Minister, I do not believe that burdening the government with massive foreign debt is a good thing! Every unit of foreign debt is depleting the government's future national strength to address the present!" Bastide immediately countered, holding financial conservatism views similar to some members of the Bank of France's board.

"If the government does not increase fiscal expenditure, then how are those employment positions supposed to materialize? How should workers find jobs? Once mass unemployment occurs, they will become destabilizing factors in society! The tumult instigated in Lyon, Rouen, and Paris has brought losses far greater than those fiscal expenditures, hasn't it?" Opler critiqued Bastide from the perspective of "revitalizing industry and reducing unemployment," simultaneously aiming to divide the "Social Democratic Faction."

As expected, Mountain Faction members within the "Social Democratic Faction" nodded frequently at Opler's reasoning.

Jean-Baptiste likewise realized the shifts occurring within his faction, and he had not anticipated that the opposition would cunningly employ the rhetoric of "expenditure = employment": "But Mr. Prime Minister, I have not seen any economic expenditure within the government spending categorized for employment!"

In response to Bastide's "attack," Opler adopted a sympathetic demeanor and said, "Our government does too much and speaks too little, which has led you to this misunderstanding! All our spending on employment positions is included under administrative and agricultural expenditures. We see no need to write it down in such detail! If you wish, please come to Matignon Palace, and I will organize and hand you the detailed records of employment positions."

Opler's words left Bastide feeling as though a fishbone was stuck in his throat, having served in government departments, he naturally understood the "inflated economics" employed by the government, realizing it would be nearly impossible to find any loophole.

Bastide's silence provided Opler the chance to counterattack, and he continued assertively selling the rhetoric he had adopted from Jerome Bonaparte: "Increasing fiscal expenditure now is to save France; cutting fiscal expenditure is dogmatism. It's imperative to increase fiscal expenditure now, especially administrative and military spending. The people demand that the French Government increase spending; without increased spending, the French people will have no job opportunities; without increased spending, the army's combat effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. If spending isn't increased, France cannot stand firmly on the European Continent."

As Opler finished speaking, the Bonaparte Faction, led by Prince Monfort on the Order Party side, erupted in enthusiastic applause for Prime Minister Opler.

The applause, akin to thunder, resounded throughout the Bourbon Palace, and amidst the applause, Prime Minister Opler bowed to the Legislative Assembly below the stage and left the podium.

With the main character having departed, Jean-Baptiste sat back down.

After the government report was completed, the assembly also moved to the next stage.

Speaker Du Ban, who had been silent for a long time, looked around before slowly speaking: "Dear members, does anyone else have proposals they wish to submit for the assembly's review? If not, then today's Legislative Assembly session will be adjourned here!"

"I do!" Valerovsky, serving as Secretary General, stepped out from the Order Party crowd and made his way to the podium under the gazes of his Order Party colleagues.

"Fellow members, as elected representatives of the people, should we not abide by the will of the people?" Valerovsky began without directly stating the content of his proposal, first posing a rhetorical question to the members present.

The members remained silent, responding to Valerovsky with their silence, and Valerovsky answered himself: "From my personal standpoint, I believe we should comply with the will of the people. We were chosen by the people to serve as members, and betraying the people is equivalent to betraying ourselves!"

The Order Party members below the stage, along with some uninformed Republican Faction members, expressed agreement with Valerovsky's words.

Only now did Valerovsky get to the main point, using a modulated tone to address the Legislative Assembly members: "During the recess, we received a joint signed petition from various provinces of France, totaling 250,000 signatures! They come from all classes in France, including governors, lawyers, as well as workers and farmers, all unequivocally expressing support for the President and the Republic."

When Valerovsky reached this point, some individuals from the "Social Democratic Faction" leaned their heads together and whispered among themselves.

"Look! The usurper finally shows his true colors!"

"I knew they wouldn't be satisfied with just four years!"

...

The whispers from the "Social Democratic Faction" did not affect Valerovsky's performance. He spread his hands, emphasizing in a rapid and incontrovertible tone: "The people hope the President can continue to serve, to complete the mission he has yet to finish! We should pay heed to this demand and must comply with the will of democracy! Amend the constitution!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the Order Party below the stage. Amidst this applause, Valerovsky gathered his speech papers and nodded toward the crowd below: "Thank you very much!"

The applause vanished as Valerovsky returned to his own seat.

Next, the time was left for the members to ponder.

At this point, the temporary leader of the Mountain Faction leaned toward Victor Hugo and quietly asked for Hugo's opinion.

"Victor, I am quite troubled! Jerome Bonaparte has already made all preparations to maintain the methods of his power! Should we support him? If we don't, we might face a coup!"

"No!" Victor Hugo responded firmly: "We cannot let fear dictate our vote! The Republic's constitution should likewise not be threatened by fear. Should the constitution be amended, Jerome Bonaparte will gain the greatest extent of power. Trust me, he will soon demand even more! Four years may become ten years, then lifetime, perhaps even emperorship!"

Victor Hugo's words solidified the Mountain Faction's temporary leader's resolve against it.

As for the Republican Faction, from the beginning, they had decided to fight against anyone attempting to amend the term limits of the constitution.

"Voting begins!" Speaker Du Ban announced the start of voting by rapping the gavel.

The entire Order Party camp cast their votes in favor of "amending the constitution to allow only one presidential term."

Within the "Social Democratic Faction," except for a few Mountain Faction and Moderate Republican members, the vast majority cast their votes in opposition.

The final voting result concluded with 536 votes in favor and 214 votes against.

"As the vote count did not meet three-quarters of the required numbers, the proposal to amend the constitution is not passed!"