130: Chapter 130 Lifetime Presidential System

"Well, you guys handle the details. There's only one principle: clear rights and responsibilities, efficiency first, and stability first."

President Chen Ran nodded, then looked at Wang Xiaopang. "Xiaopang."

"Here! Brother Ran, ah no, President!" Wang Xiaopang immediately stood up, looking a bit nervous.

"Sit. On your side, keep the livestreams going; the propaganda cannot stop.

But be careful with the content. Show more of the construction achievements, more of Deep Blue Nation's natural scenery and development potential, and introduce more of the benefits and security we provide for future residents.

Involve less specific discussion of the political system. If anyone asks, just say everything is in accordance with laws and regulations and is currently being perfected.

The focus is to attract people and make them feel good about and yearn for this land," President Chen Ran instructed.

"Understood! Brother Ran, don't worry. I'm now the number one propaganda ambassador for Deep Blue Nation! My Xia Country fans are almost at eighty million! There are several hundred million worldwide. Yesterday's livestream of the port construction brought in over two hundred thousand in donations!

There are also many people sending me private messages asking how to invest, how to immigrate, and how to come for tourism!" Wang Xiaopang reported excitedly.

"Immigration and investment are not yet mature. Tourism can be appropriately preheated, but we must wait until the infrastructure is more complete.

Screen them first and establish a database of intentions.

For the gift income, keep a portion for operations and team expenses. The rest should be injected into the Deep Blue Nation National Propaganda and Development Fund, for specific use only, and the accounts must be clear."

President Chen Ran was at ease with Wang Xiaopang. Although this kid was blustery, he was loyal and clever, and most importantly, he followed him with all his heart.

"Alright! I guarantee the accounts will be crystal clear!" Wang Xiaopang patted his chest.

"The status of diplomatic relations," President Chen Ran turned to Colt.

"Currently, the only country we have formally established diplomatic relations with is Xia Country, which was completed the day after the founding of the nation.

The three countries of Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, against the backdrop of the El Dorado joint investigation, also exchanged notes with us a week ago and established ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations. Other countries..."

Colt flipped through the documents, "Most are in a wait-and-see state. Countries that have had unpleasantness with us, such as the United States, Eagle Country, Australia, and New Zealand, naturally have no movement.

The attitude of Continental Europe is ambiguous, Russia has expressed interest, and some countries in the Middle East and Africa have intentions for private contact, but have not yet taken formal action.

The general mindset is to see if our development is sustainable, and... the direction of our relationship with Xia Country."

"As expected." President Chen Ran was not disappointed. "It is easy to add icing on the cake, but difficult to provide charcoal in the snow.

Right now, we are just a Reef that has just emerged from the sea. Others cannot see the full picture, nor do they know if there are surging undercurrents beneath, so they dare not easily approach.

It doesn't matter. Let's first build this Reef of ours into a solid island, make it brightly lit, and make it rich in products.

When the time comes, ships will naturally come to port."

He stood up and walked to the huge planning map of Deep Blue Nation on the wall, his finger sliding across the colored blocks labeled Central Administrative District, Central Business District, International Airport, Deepwater Port, Research and Education District, and Ecological Residential District.

"Once the system is set, we will follow this direction.

Diplomacy is not in a hurry; it will come naturally.

The most urgent thing right now is to turn the things on the planning map into reality, bit by bit.

The brothers from Xia Country are very supportive, and our funds are sufficient.

Victor, Anvil, security and internal stability cannot be relaxed, especially now that a large number of outside construction personnel are entering. It's a mixed bag, so ensure the sieve is fine enough.

Colt, perfect the legal framework as soon as possible. Without rules, there is no order.

Xiaopang, continue to blow our charge horn."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, finally landing on the noisy and hopeful construction site outside the window.

"Deep Blue Nation was not built in a day.

But every day, we must let it take a step forward. Whether it's a presidential system or a future imperial system, the name is not important.

What matters is that this land must become a home where we can settle down and hold our heads high.

And all of this starts from today's meeting, from the rules we set."

The meeting ended, and everyone left to get busy.

President Chen Ran stayed in the meeting room alone and glanced again at the draft constitution that had been modified and annotated.

Life President.

Enlightened Despotism.

This was the path he chose for himself and for this nascent nation at this special historical junction.

A path full of controversy, but perhaps the most direct and effective one.

He didn't care how future generations would judge him; he only cared whether he could steadily steer this giant ship that had just set sail through the stormy seas toward the deep blue shore.

As for whether it would truly turn toward an imperial system in the future?

A faint curve appeared at the corner of President Chen Ran's mouth.

That would depend on how far this deep blue territory could ultimately develop and what kind of sea of stars it would have to face.

For now, he only needed to be this Life President well, to be the only and strongest cornerstone and helmsman of this country.

...

The core content of the Deep Blue Nation Provisional Draft Constitution, especially the life presidency and the highly centralized power structure.

After the press release, which was carefully worded by Colt's team but retained the substance, was issued, it dropped like a small bombshell in the global public opinion arena, especially in the Western world, as expected.

The BBC's headline carried its usual reserved mockery: "Deep Blue Nation's New Draft Constitution: Life President and Enlightened Despotism?"

CNN's report was more direct: "El Dorado Discoverer President Chen Ran Desires to Become Life President, Sparking Fears of Democratic Regression."

The New York Times editorial was sharp: "Casting a Throne with Gold? President Chen Ran's Deep Blue Nation Dream and the Shadow of Dictatorship."

France 24: "A Rising Star in the South Pacific or an Autocratic Freak? The Controversy over the System of Deep Blue Nation."

Germany's 'Der Spiegel': "From Explorer to Dictator? President Chen Ran's Road to Power."

On major social media platforms, related topics were filled with heated debates in various languages.

Mainstream Western opinion was almost entirely one-sided in its criticism and questioning, equating President Chen Ran's systemic choice with dictatorship, authoritarianism, and anti-democracy.

Many political commentators and spokespeople for human rights organizations appeared on screen to express deep concern and strong condemnation.

Politicians in some countries even used this to call on the international community to pay attention to the human rights situation in Deep Blue Nation.

Of course, there were also different voices.

Some media and scholars from developing countries pointed out that in the special circumstances of Deep Blue Nation, which had just been founded and faced internal and external troubles, a strong leadership core might be necessary for stability and development.

The Western democratic template cannot be simply applied.

Many ordinary netizens attracted by Wang Xiaopang's livestreams were more concerned about the wonders of Deep Blue Nation's construction and its future tourism potential, showing little interest in the political system debate. Some even thought, "It's good that President Chen Ran has the final say, the efficiency is high, look at their construction speed!"

Inside Deep Blue Nation, the reaction was much simpler.

For the thousands of builders sweating on this land, they were more concerned about whether their wages were paid on time, whether living conditions were improved, and whether the project progress was smooth.

As for whether the President was for life or for a term, it seemed somewhat distant to them, who dealt with reinforced concrete every day.

In Wang Xiaopang's livestream room, when a viewer asked about this, he laughed it off: "Oh, our Deep Blue Nation has a thousand things waiting to be done, we must have someone at the helm!

Brother Ran... ah no, President Chen is leading everyone in working hard with their heads down, building the houses and roads first, and making life prosperous. We can talk about other things later!

Look at the gantry crane at our new port, isn't it awesome?"

In President Chen Ran's temporary residence, a seaside villa halfway up the mountain overlooking the port and part of the construction site, the discussion on this topic carried a domestic warmth.

After dinner, Chen Yan sat cross-legged on the soft carpet in the living room, scrolling through the news on her tablet, her small mouth pouted high: "Hmph! These people are just jealous! They can't stand to see my brother doing well!

What dictatorship and despotism, they make it sound so ugly!

Without my brother, how could there be the current Deep Blue Nation?

Did those buildings, ports, and planes grow by themselves?

Let them try starting from scratch on this deserted island!"

Shen Wanqing came over carrying a plate of sliced fruit, placed it on the coffee table, and gently advised upon hearing this: "Xiao Yan, international public opinion is like this, everyone has their own position and version of the story.

The path President Chen Ran chose will inevitably cause controversy.

What matters is that we know why we are doing this, and... where we ultimately want to go." As she spoke, her gaze turned toward President Chen Ran standing on the balcony.

President Chen Ran stood with his back to the living room, leaning against the railing, looking at the brightly lit port down the mountain and the pitch-black sea further away.

The sea breeze blew the stray hairs on his forehead.

He heard Wanqing's words, turned around, and walked into the living room with a faint, indifferent smile on his face.

"Wanqing is right. Let them curse. Cursing won't knock down a single brick of mine, nor will it stop a single crane at our port."

He sat down on the single sofa next to Shen Wanqing and picked up a piece of apple. "A system is just a tool. A tool that fits the current national conditions is a good tool.

What we need now is speed and power, not endless debate and bickering.

When we become strong, we will naturally be qualified to discuss more complex institutional designs.

Right now, I, this Life President, have to be a practical Chief Engineer plus a Chief Security Captain."

Chen Yan leaned over, sat next to her brother, and said with a giggle: "I just support Brother! Brother has the final say! But Brother, are you really going to be President for a lifetime? That would be so tiring."

President Chen Ran rubbed his sister's hair: "A lifetime is too long; let's be a good one for these next few years first.

When Deep Blue Nation truly stands firm, maybe I'll step down and become a Retired Emperor, fishing and sunbathing every day, and leave things to reliable young people."

When he said this, his tone was half-serious and half-joking, but his gaze drifted thoughtfully toward the distant, faintly visible outline of the Central Lake in the darkness.

There, in the future, would be a garden from her hometown.

Shen Wanqing ate her fruit quietly without interrupting.

She understood President Chen Ran's choice and even considered it a pragmatic move from the perspective of efficiency and the current situation.

But the family education she had received since childhood and the history books she had read made her instinctively cautious about unrestricted power.

She only secretly hoped that President Chen Ran would always remember the word 'Enlightened'."}],