Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 1088 - 944: Polar Reversal_2

Chapter 1088: Chapter 944: Polar Reversal_2

Clearly, there are no fools sitting in this hall.

The covert maneuvers Kornov had engaged in behind the scenes were almost an "open secret," and most Congressmen had already heard.

Everyone was also curious about what kind of price the Moscow Faction would pay this time to "buy" the votes of the Krakow Group Congressmen.

Moreover, would these Krakow Group Congressmen, for the benefits promised by Kornov, turn around to support Luzhikov, his old nemesis...

Actually, before every vote in the Duma, there’s a "lobbying" phase where interested parties privately approach influential senior Congressmen to barter for their votes with benefits.

Nothing new here.

This time was no exception, Kornov too had made his moves well in advance.

It was just because this thing was of significant importance, and involved Mikhail and Luzhikov, two top players in the political arena!

Thus, it seemed particularly sensitive...

......

The Congressmen from the Hilarwick Group sitting in the first area exchanged glances, also not expecting today’s voting rules to be like this.

But there had never been a precedent for removing a Governor, so changing the voting rules was not really a big deal.

Since Grezlov had already announced it that way, they could only vote in this manner; it was no longer possible to change it.

Because the voting was under a real-name system, which meant not using voting machines, but raising hands along with supporters, and the clerk would record all the counts.

Honestly, it was quite difficult to make a public choice with so many eyes on you.

Especially considering that Hilarwick Group had always been archenemies with the Moscow Faction...

"Congressmen in favor of removing Governor Luzhikov, please raise your hand!" the clerk reminded.

Congressmen in the first area looked at each other, their eyes searching, clearly none wanted to be the first to raise their hand.

"Supporters, please raise your hands!" the clerk reminded again.

Finally, one person raised their hand, then a second, a third...

Raising a hand meant support for the removal of Luzhikov!

No need for a tally, one could easily see that the number of Congressmen raising their hands was not many, even quite few!

The Meeting Hall immediately became a bit noisy; the Congressmen in the other three areas began whispering among themselves upon seeing this scene in the first area.

Keep in mind, the Hilarwick Group was The first faction in Duma with one hundred and fifty-five seats!

Now roughly counting, less than fifteen Congressmen had raised their hands!

Didn’t that mean over one hundred and forty Congressmen were opposed to removing Luzhikov!

According to the rules, if the number of opposing Congressmen reached one hundred and eighty, the removal procedure would be halted and declared a failure!

And the Moscow Faction itself had not yet started voting with sixty seats still in play; adding those sixty votes, wouldn’t the opposition exceed two hundred...

Many Congressmen turned their gaze to the chair, where four chairpersons’ faces showed different expressions.

Grezlov’s face was ashen; he had known before the vote that some Congressmen would choose to oppose the removal of Luzhikov, because Kornov had done quite a bit of work and likely promised many benefits yesterday.

But he had never expected so many Congressmen in his own faction to make this choice!

Now the nature of it was different!

Because more than one hundred and forty people chose to oppose the removal of Luzhikov, that practically declared the result of today’s vote: the Moscow Faction had triumphed!

Mikhail’s failure was a minor matter, but the disgrace of his own faction was major!

After today, it wouldn’t just be Mikhail facing the consequences of the voting failure, his own faction would also become a joke to everyone else.

For a bit of benefit, so many Congressmen had openly "defected," defending their old foe Luzhikov – what kind of thing was this...

......

A smile involuntarily spread across Kornov’s face.

His efforts had not been wasted!

The money Luzhikov had spent had not been in vain either...

The reason he had suggested this voting method was to give everyone a little shock!

This was The first faction in Duma, this was the Krakow Group, this was the old nemesis of the Moscow Faction.

Yet, in the face of interests, so many Congressmen made choices that seemed unbelievable to everyone!

One hundred and forty votes!

With the addition of his own faction’s sixty votes, the victory in today’s vote was firmly secured.

As for Mikhail’s and Rilinov’s factions, to be honest, it did not matter anymore whether they voted now, as it was impossible for dozens of votes to appear out of nowhere!

The outcome was already decided, haha...

Rilinov furrowed his brows, quite surprised, obviously not anticipating so many from the first faction would defect and support Luzhikov.

His gaze towards Wang Ye was filled with bewilderment and a hint of reproach.

Was this young man too contemptuous of the enemy, not preparing in advance for such an important matter?

Now, the vote was virtually over, and the consequences of failure, whether he could bear them or not...

Wang Ye’s expression had remained unchanged from the start of the meeting until now, with a touch of a smile, seeming very relaxed.

Even after such a shocking scene unfolded, there was still no change in him.