Chapter 351: Side Story - Daniel Steiner, Who Doesn't Want to Be Reelected
The Imperial Supreme Administrative Headquarters, near the Imperial Palace.
The Prime Minister's official residence, Daniel Steiner's office.
"Your Excellency. The Kingdom of Bellemont has expressed its intention to join the International Peace Organization."
Phelps, the Chief of Policy for the Economic Reconstruction Command, delivered his report to Daniel, who was seated at his desk. A smile played on Phelps's lips, a clear sign of a satisfactory outcome.
"This brings the total to twenty nations that have joined the international peace organization led by the Empire. Thanks to your efforts, Your Excellency, the Empire's prestige has been elevated even further. Congratulations."
Leaning back in his chair, Daniel nodded with a weary expression.
I did put in a lot of effort...
No matter how much of a victorious nation the Empire was, establishing an international organization was no easy task. He couldn't just bully neutral and defeated nations into joining.
So, Daniel had continued negotiations, accommodating the neutral and defeated nations as much as possible. Not only did he travel tirelessly to meet with the leaders of each country, but whenever a foreign delegation arrived, he treated them with the utmost hospitality to prevent any complaints. He also managed to sign numerous agreements, ensuring the Empire did not suffer any losses.
The trust he had built resulted in twenty nations expressing their desire to join the international peace organization founded by the Empire.
Now, only the charter signing ceremony remained, so it was safe to say the hard part was over. The moment the representatives of each nation gathered to sign the charter, the Empire would reign over the world not only as a hegemonic power but also as a symbol of peace.
...I've succeeded in laying a foundation so the Empire won't fall before I die.
All that was left was to comfortably step down from the prime ministership and retire.
If there's just one problem...
The moment the international organization was established, Prime Minister Daniel Steiner's approval rating would skyrocket. A rise in approval ratings led directly to reelection.
Wanting to prevent that at all costs, Daniel looked at Phelps.
"Chief of Policy, what's my current approval rating?"
"Ah. As I understand it, Your Excellency's approval rating recently dropped by 3% and now stands at 70%. It seems the cause of the decline was your order to eradicate crime in an effort to restore domestic order ahead of the organization's founding."
"...Why would ordering the eradication of crime do that?"
"The problem was that personnel from the Security Bureau and the police showed excessive loyalty to Your Excellency. The public must have felt inconvenienced by the increase in crackdowns and controls aimed at eliminating crime."
He could roughly guess what had happened. The people who heard his order to eradicate crime saw it as an opportunity to boost their performance records and intensified their crackdowns. The crime rate had indeed decreased as a result, so he couldn't exactly blame them, but such actions shouldn't lead to a situation that infringed upon the people's freedom.
"Tell the Director of the Security Bureau and the Police Commissioner General to stop their performance competition. Anyway, an approval rating of 70%..."
Daniel sank into thought. Considering his approval rating was 81% when he took office five years ago, it had dropped by 11%, but it was still far too high.
At this rate...
Stepping down from the prime ministership would be next to impossible. With less than four months left in his term, having such a high approval rating was not good for Daniel in the slightest.
I have to find a way to lower my approval rating...
Only if his approval rating fell would he have a justification to step down. But how could he make it drop?
As Daniel pondered, tapping his fingers on the desk, Phelps grew tense.
Is he in a bad mood because his approval rating dropped?
No.
Of course, his term as Prime Minister is ending soon. He must be thinking about reelection, so a drop in his rating wouldn't look good.
Not at all.
But it's a common phenomenon for approval ratings to decline in stages after taking office.
In fact, one could say Daniel Steiner had succeeded in stably defending his approval rating. For 70% of the public to still support him after the implementation of numerous policies under his name since the end of the war was proof that he had not lost their trust.
Your Excellency. You are doing a fine job.
Amidst this misunderstanding, as Phelps sent his silent encouragement, a brilliant idea struck Daniel.
"Chief of Policy."
Daniel snapped his fingers and looked at Phelps.
"Hasn't there been a labor-management dispute between Baekjin Corporation and the Hwalgong Union recently?"
Recalling recent incidents, Phelps nodded.
"That's correct. The Hwalgong Union is demanding a wage increase and is also opposing Baekjin Corporation's introduction of automated equipment."
"...They're opposing the introduction of automated equipment?"
"Yes. The reason is that it will reduce the number of jobs for workers."
The reason wasn't hard to understand. However, the company would be in no position to accept the union's demands. Introducing automated equipment would not only increase productivity but also reduce labor costs.
"The conflict between the two sides has intensified, and the union members have reportedly gone on strike. An article about it was on the front page of the Imperial Daily two days ago."
In other words, it was a heated social issue. Public interest would be focused on it, which was a good thing for Daniel.
If I step in between the corporation and the union, pretend to mediate, and then fail...
The public would openly express their disappointment in a Prime Minister who couldn't resolve a dispute between a corporation and a union.
That should be enough to lower my approval rating.
Having made his decision, Daniel let a smile grace his lips.
"Chief of Policy? I believe it is the duty of the one who sits as the head of the administration to resolve labor-management disputes. What are your thoughts?"
"...You are not wrong, Your Excellency. If you wish, I will contact the union chairman and the corporate executives to arrange a meeting."
"Good. I will await the news here."
Phelps bowed his head and turned to leave. Once he confirmed Phelps had left the office, Daniel rose from his seat. He walked over to the sunlit window and smiled faintly.
If I start lowering my approval rating step by step from now on, I should be able to prevent my reelection.
The thought of the day he would be liberated from his duties naturally lifted Daniel's spirits.
*
Meanwhile, at the Baekjin Corporation meeting room.
"I believe I've told you before. I can overlook other things, but I can't just undo the purchase of equipment we've already bought. And you should know that a wage increase is not something we can easily accept right now."
"I'm sorry, but we can't back down either. If you bring in automated equipment and its productivity and efficiency are proven, it's us workers who will suffer. Isn't that right?"
The words of the management and the union chairman were once again running on parallel tracks.
"It's obvious you plan to gradually increase the automated equipment and cut down on unnecessary personnel, isn't it? What are we, fools? You think we'll just let you swindle us when your intentions are so clear?"
"Listen to this guy! Do you think a corporation is some kind of charity? Are you telling us to take out loans just to feed you!?"
"I'm not saying you have to feed us, but you should at least provide us with a way to survive! If you say no to this and no to that, what are we supposed to do!"
The president of Baekjin Corporation shot up from his seat.
"This man is completely out of his mind! Who do you think you're talking to—!"
The president of Baekjin Corporation was about to fly into a rage but clamped his mouth shut. The door to the meeting room had burst open, and his secretary had entered.
"P-President!"
The secretary's face was pale. Just as the president was wondering what was wrong, the secretary took a deep breath and spoke.
"A call came from the Supreme Administrative Headquarters."
The moment the secretary's words echoed, the meeting room was enveloped in silence. The Supreme Administrative Headquarters was, for all intents and purposes, the executive body commanded by Prime Minister Daniel Steiner. It was only natural to be flustered by a sudden call from the very pinnacle of power.
"...Why would the Administrative Headquarters contact our company?"
"Well..."
The secretary struggled to continue.
"Prime Minister Daniel Steiner wishes to personally mediate the labor dispute..."
Upon hearing those words, the president felt the strength drain from his legs.
"The P-Prime Minister..."
Slumping back into his chair, the president's eyes trembled violently. Seeing the president's face turn deathly pale, the union chairman broke the silence.
"Why are you so frightened? It doesn't sound like he has bad intentions..."
The president slowly turned his head to face the union chairman.
"...You think he doesn't have bad intentions? The Empire is currently on the verge of establishing an international organization. Do you truly not understand what it means for the Prime Minister to want to see us at a time like this?"
Swallowing dryly, the president continued.
"The Prime Minister is warning us. He's telling us to be prepared if this labor dispute continues when the representatives from each nation visit the Empire. In the worst-case scenario..."
The president raised a trembling hand to his forehead.
"The Security Bureau might arrest us for tarnishing the nation's honor. The Prime Minister has more than enough power to do that."
Hearing the president's explanation, the union chairman broke out in a cold sweat.
"Chairman."
Seized by terror, the president spoke after a deep breath.
"This is no time for us to be fighting. We must come up with an agreement, by any means necessary, before the Prime Minister arrives."
When faced with an irresistible disaster, humans will even join hands with their enemies. The union chairman was no different; sensing the gravity of the situation, he nodded his head.
"...I understand. Let's find common ground so we can end this dispute."
In the shadow of the fear cast by the being known as Daniel Steiner, the two cornered men dramatically joined hands.