Chapter 670 - 312: Provinces, Cities, Counties; Prefectures, States, Towns

After failing to seek the help of Prime Minister Canovas, Conservative Party MPs opposed to administrative reform realized that no one in Spain could prevent the occurrence of administrative reform.

In that case, they could only passively accept it and guide the reform towards a more reasonable direction as much as possible.

A few days later, during the regular session of the Lower House, the proposal on administrative reform received a majority of approval votes in the ballot.

This surprised the MPs of the Progressive Party. They originally thought it would take a long time of wrangling to push through the reform, but unexpectedly, Conservative Party MPs surrendered and voted directly in favor.

Since the biggest opposition, the Conservative Party, had already chosen to agree, it was naturally impossible for other parties and independents to continue to insist on an opposing stance.

Public opinion had developed to the point that whoever voted against would be seen as a selfish national traitor. In such a situation, no one dared to carry that pressure.

Thus, the proposal for administrative reform received an overwhelming majority of approval votes, with the remaining MPs mostly abstaining rather than opposing.

At the meeting, Ferdinand Avery, the then-Speaker of the Lower House, announced that the administrative reform had been passed. The Lower House would formally initiate negotiations on the administrative reform, and after negotiations would submit the results to the Upper House for approval.

Regarding the existing administrative reform in Spain, the most mentioned are those less populated regions like Cantabria, Basque, Asturias, as well as Navarre and La Rioja located in the north.

As for the southern large regions like Andalusia, Valencia, and La Mancha, they are basically not on the list of administrative reforms.

These regions are vast in area, and their populations reach millions or even several million. They fully qualify to be a region on their own, so naturally, they do not face the risk of being abolished or merged.

After several days of negotiations and voting, the Lower House finally decided that the regions involved in the administrative reform were Asturias Region, Cantabria Region, Basque Country, Navarre Region, La Rioja Region, and Murcia Region, these six administrative divisions.

These six administrative regions will be abolished or merged, eventually leaving only 2 regions, to reduce the number of administrative regions in Spain and decrease officials and government agencies.

After the discussion results of the Lower House meeting were finally announced, this administrative reform plan immediately sparked intense discussion within Spain.

For most Spaniards, administrative reform doesn’t have much to do with them. Although there are six regions involved in the reform, the total population of these six regions is still less than that of a single region like Andalusia.

Additionally, since five out of six regions are located in northern Spain, it also somewhat reduces the impact brought by the administrative reform.

If there has to be an influence, perhaps the most dissatisfied would be the Basque.

As one of the most valiant and combative ethnic groups in Spain, the Basque have never integrated into the big family of Spain. Originally, the Basque controlled two administrative regions, Basque Country and La Rioja Region, and they are also the third largest ethnic group in Spain after the Catalans.

If based on what the Lower House said, both the current Basque Country and La Rioja Region would be merged, it is uncertain whether the Basque could maintain their existing land.

More importantly, after merging with other regions, the number of Basque in their administrative regions will also decrease significantly.

This is a huge blow to the Basque people’s national independence. When they cannot maintain their distinction from other Spaniards, they are only forced to integrate into the larger family of Spain.

This is what the Basque don’t want to see. They attempt to initiate demonstrations to resist the decision of the Lower House, at least trying to retain either the Basque Country or La Rioja Region, ensuring the Basque could have control in at least one administrative division.

Regarding the very particular Basque, Carlo’s vigilance has never weakened.

Although the Catalans are still the largest ethnic group in Spain, the Basque people’s ambition and independence from Spain are unparalleled among all ethnic groups on the Iberian Peninsula.

It is no exaggeration to say that the ethnic differences between the Basque and the Spaniards are even greater than those between the Portuguese and the Spaniards.

Assimilating such a valiant and combative ethnic group is very difficult. Spain historically spent hundreds of years and still couldn’t achieve it. In the future, the Basque Region remains the most fiercely independent region in Spain.

Therefore, it’s naturally unnecessary to be polite to the Basque.

Previously, Carlo had already initiated an immigration plan, moving Spaniards from the more populous regions of Spain to the two administrative regions of the Basque to dilute the Basque’s population proportion there.

Based on the current population ratio in the region, Carlo’s efforts have been relatively successful.

Currently, the combined population of Basque Country and La Rioja Region is as high as 850,000, an increase of about 200,000 compared to 15 years ago.