Extreme Cold Era: Shelter Don't Keep Waste-Chapter 668 - 625: Cabinet and Prime Minister

Perfikot's words indeed led the truly insightful to deep contemplation; many of them have really felt the inefficiency of the parliament.

Sometimes, even when things are urgent, they end up being stuck waiting for the parliament's approval, which delays matters.

Thus, the Duke of Gloucester asked Perfikot, "Count Brandelis, what are your thoughts?"

"The Empire needs a more efficient and professional institution to manage daily affairs and handle urgent matters. The parliament is more about deciding national policies and major strategies," Perfikot finally put down her book and began to speak earnestly.

As she spoke, almost everyone sat up straight, listening intently to what she had to say.

This is the power of the Count of the Northern Territory—a single word makes the entire Empire listen attentively.

However, Perfikot seemed indifferent to this; she was simply expressing her viewpoint: "Major strategies and law-making should be placed in the parliament, as these require thorough debate, taking into account the opinions of various interest groups, and only then forming a plan that everyone can accept and execute.

Parliament is precisely that kind of place, where with representatives from various interests, everyone can have enough time to discuss seriously and formulate policies and laws that may not be ideal but are acceptable to all.

But when it comes to governance, the parliament is undoubtedly inefficient; we cannot afford to spend a week in heated debates in the National Assembly just to decide whether to repair a road or set up a few more trash bins on the roadside.

Therefore, the Empire needs an efficient, professional institution with enough power to make timely decisions.

The Privy Council is the backbone of the Empire's operations, making critical decisions in key moments to keep the Empire on the right path and thriving.

Hence, I propose we clearly define the parliament's duties, stripping the decision-making power for day-to-day administration and major urgent matters from parliament and handing it to the Privy Council.

Moreover, the Privy Council should form a regular cabinet, establishing the position of prime minister to oversee the entire Empire, alongside cabinet members nominated by and approved by Her Majesty the Empress and the parliament to manage day-to-day affairs."

Upon hearing Perfikot's speech, everyone present suddenly didn't know what to say.

Without a doubt, Perfikot's plan undeniably reduces the parliament's authority, turning it from a body that could influence the Empire's politics and decisions into merely a place for arguments.

Surely, legislative power is indeed very important, but for a vast empire, it can't be about constantly convening meetings to legislate?

Furthermore, as laws become more refined, new legislation will only decrease, leaving adjustments and amendments to existing laws in response to social changes.

These tasks seem important but aren't actually as significant as imagined.

Regarding national policies? That's even more nonsense; it's just a general guideline, debated once a year at most.

Furthermore, it's only discussion, not the parliament deciding how to implement and what specific actions to take.

Simply put, it's a reference point for setting the tone, while specific execution depends on the cabinet.

The real execution of major strategies and determining national tactics still lies with the cabinet restructured from the Privy Council.

Within the cabinet, the prime minister should be the most important, as per Perfikot's explanation, the cabinet members are nominated by the prime minister, granting the prime minister significant power.

After all, the cabinet is the real institution managing the country, and cabinet members are without a doubt those who can truly govern the country, worthy of being described as high positions with substantial power.

"Count Brandelis, how exactly should this prime minister be elected? By a vote in the parliament or appointed directly by Her Majesty the Empress?" someone asked Perfikot this critical question.

Indeed, the position of prime minister wasn't entirely absent in the past Empire, such as the position of the chairman of the Noble Council held by the Duke of Gloucester, which in a sense possessed some prime ministerial powers.

However, the role of the chairman of the Noble Council was mainly to constrain the Noble Council and mediate conflicts between royal authority and the Noble Council, without the power to appoint or remove members, let alone manage the country.

Perfikot's introduction of the prime minister and cabinet was largely seen by various forces as an attempt by Perfikot to control the entire nation.

This instantly made various forces tense, as if this were true, Perfikot, even without sitting on the throne, would be no different from becoming an emperor.

Thus, how the prime minister should be elected and how the prime minister should perform duties became the crucial point.

However, they evidently misunderstood Perfikot; she merely waved her hand and said, "The position of prime minister should be elected and then recognized by the empress to assume office. Moreover, it can't be a lifelong tenure, nor can the term be too long, to prevent the expansion of the prime minister's power, cultivating personal forces for autocracy.

Thus, each term of the prime minister should be limited to about four to five years, after which a re-election is required, and at most, one consecutive term can be served, after which a change is necessary.

Of course, in times of war or other critically special circumstances, the prime minister may extend their term, but must obtain the consent of both the National Assembly and the empress."

Perfikot's proposed system exceeded everyone's expectations; they did not anticipate Perfikot would straightforwardly give up the chance to control the Empire, yet they found her proposed system acceptable.

Certainly, although internally it seemed acceptable, verbally there had to be debates.

But these had nothing to do with Perfikot; she made her position clear, and naturally, there would be officials on her side to strive for vested interests.

As for herself? She picked up her book once again, engrossed in reading.

Feeling bored, there were still refreshments and Beifa's tea, making Perfikot feel quite comfortable.

Regarding whether the prime minister and cabinet system will be approved, Perfikot was not concerned; after all, the original world had a prime minister system emerge around the 18th century, where an elected prime minister was the direct manager of the nation, marking the transference of royal power to the emerging bourgeoisie.

Perfikot's proposal of this system would undoubtedly gain the support of quite a number of people, as it provides an important opportunity for the emerging bourgeoisie and lower nobility to gain power.

Such a system was advanced enough for the time, capable of effectively managing a nation, ensuring one very crucial thing—even if the King was a fool, it wouldn't affect the country's internal affairs.