Part 2 - Valutazione dei Candidati
Two months had passed since Jesús Aguilar, Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, also known as The Great Three, had met in the little Grequian village of Manarola. During that time, the former President, Premier Commissioner and the current Speaker of the European Council had been in contact, but not as much as they would have loved to be. While Juncker and Aguilar were closer, partly thanks to their retirement from politics, good old Donald was busy. Therefore, the Andalusian and the Germanic started their own attempt of drafting a cabinet for Sebastián Rubio, also known by them as Il Predestinato. Days later, the two former Presidents of the Kingdom of Spain agreed on meeting in a different location on 1st March, an encounter they told Tusk about. The Spanish Councillor and Council Speaker accepted... or maybe not.
«You have got to be joking, Jesús. The Spanish Micronesia? Why on Earth would we meet there?! I have not seen a headline about our encounter in Manarola two months ago, why can't we meet there again?», Tusk asked the Spanish President, somewhat annoyed.
«It was Jean-Claude's idea to meet there. He said he wants a 'relaxing experience', and that he does not plan to leave his holidays early. He has booked an hotel until Sunday, and claims to be drinking loads of wine and having great fun with Christiane. Only God knows what great fun means, I will not even make an attempt on thinking about it», Aguilar said, disgusted by the scene that had just come up in his mind.
«Then tell our boozer friend to move his ass out of the Spanish Micronesia and find a place where we can meet to discuss our progress. And do not dare to mention me that kind of fun ever again, I am still elder than you, you got me? Like, I would rather meet in a cave in Cantabria!», answered the Speaker, who seemed to have a bad day according to his tone.
«Donald, I will try my best», sentenced Aguilar, hunging up. He then called Jean-Claude Juncker, who accepted to shorten his holidays in exchange of a box of the best Rioja wine the former Spanish President could find in 'El Corte Inglés' before the meeting. «Thank God I am not either of these guys child. Their old age would be exhausting...», Jesús told her wife while entering bed. «Yet, they are your mentors, your best friends and probably, the biggest supporters you had when you were a politician», Julie argued. Aguilar panted: «I guess you are right».
Somewhere in Monsanto, Portugalia
Wearing sunglasses, a blue suit and green tie in honour of the National Day of Andalucía, Aguilar awaited for the arrival of his friends to the peculiar place he had chosen for the meeting, an abandoned cottage next to a rock on a cliff. He was looking at sunset, resting on his black Mercedes GLC Coupé's bonnet. He could hear the cheeps of the birds, the sound the leaves made when they were moved by the wind. The place was peaceful, silent and hidden: no one could ever imagine that The Great Three would meet there.
Meanwhile, Donald Tusk had found themselves on the same car, with Jean-Claude driving while he complained about the chosen location: «If you had agreed to come to the Spanish Micronesia, we would be drinking caipirinhas right now! -said the former Premier, annoyed- Instead, going there was 'too risky' for you! How would Donald Tusk go to the Spanish Micronesia? What would people say? You are just beginning your decline to become a mediocre politician!», he sentenced. «Caipirinhas?! You would have been more focused on driking bottles and bottles of Rioja rather than listening to our plans concerning the guy, Jean-Claude», Tusk answered. They kept arguing until Donald turned his head and looked to the dirt path, getting to see that they were dangerously approaching a tree: «JEAN-CLAUDE, THE TREE!», he screamed. Juncker managed to avoid it and just like that, they both ended up finding the cottage.
Jesús noticed their arrival, who could ignore it? Donald and Jean-Claude got off the car and approached the former Spanish President, who turned around to welcome his friends, smiling. They greeted each other with a hug, and Aguilar was helped by his guests to display three chairs and a table, where they left the food. «Won't the birds disturb us, Jesús?», Juncker wondered, while he looked at the bottle of wine. «They were heading to bed shortly before you arrived. I have also brought three lanterns, as I plan this summit to go on for a few hours», Aguilar informed. «We might not need them, Jesús. We have a full Moon today», Tusk noted.
Jesús then pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket that said 'likely supporters'. He handed it to Juncker and Tusk so they could read the list of names the former Spanish president had written on it. «Draghi? I thought we already had confirmed that one», Juncker said, looking at the Spanish Councillor. «Actually... Draghi said we could count on him, but there needs to be a compensation», Donald added. Jean-Claude did not look happy: «I warned you, but I was the crazy old man! Now look, there you have it: we pay him, or the whole plot is over. Let me repeat this once again: HE IS NOVOITALIAN, THOSE GUYS DON'T. KEEP. SECRETS!!», Juncker shouted.
«Jean-Claude, relax. At this time, I am quite sure Donald knows what Mario wants in exchange of his support, don't you Donald?», Jesús replied in a calm tone. «I do. He just wants Metsola to be the kiddo's Vicepresident, and Mariastella to be the Transport Minister», Tusk pointed out. «We can accept that, sure. By the way, Donald, sorry for shouting at you», the former Premier Commissioner apologised. «Therefore, we are moving towards building Il Predestinato's Cabinet already?», Jesús asked. Both gentlemen nodded. «Alright then, but I would rather have the kid in front of us for that. Or... hearing us at least», he noted.
«I am fine with bringing him to our next meeting, but I want to choose the place where we will meet next time», confessed Jean-Claude. «Nevertheless, I would like to make sure that we are all on this boat, and by being on this boat I mean if we agree that this guy is our man. I wouldn't like to work on something that is predestined to be a failure, and I love the kid, so you better back off now if you are not sure about him», Juncker commented.
«I think we can all agree that he is the man», Donald stated. «His management of the summit with the United Duchies was exemplary, and we got a good deal out of it. Feijóo told me he was 'pleased' with my advice about hiring Il Predestinato for the job, so we are good to go. Jesús, you are the one that remains in touch with him the majority of the time. Do you think he is suitable for the job?», Tusk inquired.
«He is perfect. Il Predestinato is the new us. Yet, he will need to form his own army, just like I made mine up. Let's go stright to the point: Jean-Claude and I are retired, we are part of Spain's history. You can be his right hand, Donald, but you cannot forget, neither can we, that you are settled in Europolis. He needs someone he can trust here. On the contrary, I do not think he will be able to trust Alberto, not because he does not trust him -he does- but rather because Alberto will feel betrayed by his Foreign Affairs Minister. Metsola is a good Vicepresident, but do we really want her to be Il Predestinato's right hand? Not me, and I am sure you do not either. The kiddo needs someone he can trust, as well as a subject that we perceive as prepared for the challenge ahead», Jesús noted.
«I have an idea concerning the strong Vicepresident that we need», the Council Speaker said. «Marta Merino is the woman we are looking for. Intelligent, with character, sense of humour, everyone likes her and she has experience in the Spanish Government. She was your Vice-President, Jesús, and I think you are still in contact with her today, if you two did not lie to me. Besides, the boy needs someone with experience, and we need someone who can advise him as well as anyone here when we are not available», Donald added.
«We are forgetting about the fact that we need to do something with Pablo Hernández de Cos», Juncker noted. «He would still hold the Ministry he is in charge of right now, although he would not be the Vicepresident of the Spanish Government. Pablo will certainly not be an issue to our plans, of that I am sure. I can speak to him if you two want me to», Jesús added. The former Spanish President was a close friend of the former Governor of the Bank of Spain, as they worked together when he was the President of the Kingdom of Spain.
«As things stand right now, the plot looks like this: Il Predestinato becomes the President. Merino and Metsola, Vicepresidents. Gelmini and Hernández de Cos stay. Feijóo attempts to become Commissioner and we give him a good role on the European Progressive Alliance. Bravo stays as we secure Juanma Moreno's support. So does Penny Mourdaunt in Defence, and Anja in Science. I am guessing we are respecting Cayetana in the Ministry of Justice. That leaves us with Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs left to assign, as we will leave Il Predestinato choose his less relevant Ministers», Jean-Claude said.
«I like Bendodo as Home Affairs Minister. He is not an issue either, so we are good. My concerns arise when we begin to speak about the next Foreign Affairs Minister... which is even more worrying when you think about the fact that he will be the one in charge of establishing the storytelling of 'Operation Turtle Beach'. We need someone who is experienced, somebody who knows what he is doing... That is why I am bringing up Gabriel Attal's to this conversation», Tusk announced.
«Experienced? Attal? -Juncker laughed- I was expecting you to say Anthony Blinken, and that way we would fill the American quota that Obama forces us all to have in our cabinet. But you propose Attal, who is an unknown guy, no Government experience... is he your new protegée, Donald? He is not who we are looking for», Jean-Claude objected. «He is a good politician. On top of that, yes, he is a promising talent and certainly, my new protegée. Jesús is also following the guy, and you should too, Jean-Claude», the Speaker noted. «Then make him Vicepresident and put Merino in Foreign Affairs!», Juncker replied.
«I like Attal. He is smart, he knows how to read the situation with skill and ease... not to mention that he is a close friend of Il Predestinato. I want to remind you that the Foreign Affairs Minister is the one that travels the most with the President. If you don't believe me, ask Alfonso Dastis. He is another promising figure to be aware of, and giving him this chance is what he needs to become the version of himself Donald and I have always demanded him to turn into. He is ready to be another Dastis, maybe an improved version of him», Aguilar told Juncker.
«Argh, fine, you win. Regardless, we still need to please Barack and his exigencies, and I want someone that I have a huge affection for in that Cabinet. As Thierry goes, I want Jennifer Granholm to return to her Ministry. The kiddo can choose the others, and will choose the others. No more designations. Deal?», the former Premier inquired his friends, before looking at the full Moon emerging from the horizon.
«Done», Tusk and Aguilar answered at unison. The Council Speaker then caught a paper, a pen and wrote down the names of the future Ministers of the Spanish Government under Il Predestinato's leadership. «Now comes the hard part: convincing the territorial leaders, telling the boy what we have agreed and starting to implement our plan. I'll take care of the current ministers and good old Draghi. Jean-Claude, you take Obama and meet with Il Predestinato, inform him of our progress, but discreetly, and let him weave his cabinet. As for you, Jesús, I want you to talk to Attal, Merino and Hernández de Cos. The meetings will be private», the Spanish Councillor said.
«Fine. Before we approach the territorial leaders, we will meet again. Jean-Claude, next time you choose the meeting point, but remember, it has to be somewhere where you are convinced about our security and not being disturbed. It will also have to be done by the end of May at the latest, which leaves us with fewer and fewer options as the summer flying season will have started by then. So think carefully and keep us updated», Aguilar added
«I have a few places in mind, so sure thing. Well, gentlemen, I have not made my dear wife cook for nothing, so you better start eating this and telling me how delicious everything is... I love working together... and if there is wine in the meeting, that makes it a perfect day!», Jean-Claude added. The Great Three then had dinner together and had fun, laughing at each other's stories, mocking one another and remembering some anecdotes. La valutazione had been completed. It was a matter of time until Il Predestinato became a threat to Feijóo.
