Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 1211 - 1005: Only One Person in Charge_2

Chapter 1211: Chapter 1005: Only One Person in Charge_2

However, the issue is that in the government’s proposed budget plan, there is only a substantial increase in next year’s spending budget, but the forecast for next year’s GDP growth rate is very conservative...

It’s actually understandable.

Because everyone knows how to spend money, and it’s very easy to spend even a large sum of money.

Therefore, it’s very easy to propose an increased spending budget, as it’s easy to double the operational expenses of various departments, raise personnel wages, and increase benefits and perks.

However, to increase the GDP growth rate on top of this year’s is another level of difficulty...

The main reason why the GDP growth rate was so high in 2005, which is this year, is mainly due to the surge in international energy prices. Whether such a situation is sustainable or not, who can say for sure.

What if international energy prices fall next year...

Or even if they don’t fall, what if they just fluctuate around the current prices? Where would next year’s GDP growth come from!

In such matters, the government cannot just make wild promises without regard to reality.

Because if they set a GDP growth rate target and fail to meet it next year, or if there is a large discrepancy, there will be a call for accountability!

Clearly, no one wants to be responsible for that.

That’s why the government came up with what, in Wang Ye’s eyes, seemed like a ludicrous budget proposal...

......

Gavriil was at a loss for words and fell silent for quite a while before he forced a smile and said,

"Well, come over for dinner tonight. He also wants to be updated on the situation.

In addition, Medvedev will be there too; you can communicate with him face-to-face.

We all belong to Davarich; what issue can’t be clearly communicated, right?"

Now that he put it this way, Wang Ye definitely couldn’t refuse because, even if he did not do it for Gavriil’s sake, he had to do it for his father-in-law’s sake.

This dinner was clearly arranged by his father-in-law to bring both him and Medvedev together to communicate face-to-face, with the hopes that they would each make concessions to reach a unanimous plan and stop causing a stir...

Actually, Wang Ye was not the kind of person to pester others unreasonably; he just wanted the government to understand who has the final say when it comes to financial authority!

In the political arena, being too nice doesn’t work as others will assume you are weak and bully you into giving more and more!

In crucial matters, one must make their stance clear, and where one should not compromise, not give an inch!

Only then will others truly respect you and consider your attitude before they act.

"Alright, I’ll come over after work this evening," Wang Ye said decisively.

......

It was very convenient for him to go there for dinner now, as the Economic Committee was located in the Kremlin office, not far from where his father-in-law’s office and residence were.

So, just after five o’clock, Wang Ye strolled to Gavriil’s office, who then took him to see his father-in-law.

It was the same familiar small dining room, and Medvedev had already arrived, having tea and chatting with his father-in-law.

Seeing Gavriil and Wang Ye enter, his father-in-law smiled, nodded in greeting, while Medvedev quickly stood up and very politely greeted Wang Ye.

Although he was older than Wang Ye and held a position not below Wang Ye’s.

But there’s no helping it, Wang Ye’s "seniority" was indisputable; in every aspect, he overshadowed Medvedev!

Plus, the fact that Medvedev was able to sit in his current position was largely thanks to Wang Ye’s support, hence he owed him a debt of gratitude.

So every time he saw Wang Ye, Medvedev was very polite, even reverent...

After the four of them sat down, the service staff began to serve a sumptuous and delicious meal, and they all started to chat while eating.

Since everyone present was truly one of their own, his father-in-law didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point,

"There’s been quite a stir about the recent budget proposal. Didn’t you two communicate beforehand?

How did this situation arise?"

Wang Ye didn’t make a sound; the main responsibility for this matter lay with Medvedev, and he had no intention of taking the fall for him.

Medvedev explained the situation with a bitter smile, of course emphasizing that proposing such a budget plan was not his intention, but that he was forced by various institutions and departments—it’s what "public opinion" demanded, and he was powerless to change it.

It was, indeed, a good excuse.

After all, whether it’s the father-in-law or Wang Ye, both of them knew that the government was not a monolith, with various factions, superiors, and even parties intertwined with conflicting interests.

It was normal for Medvedev, who hadn’t been in office for long, to not have full control of the situation.

Besides, as the leader, he couldn’t dampen his subordinates’ enthusiasm, which would offend many people...

......

After listening, the father-in-law straightened his face and criticized him seriously:

"This is your problem.

Always remember, you are the person in charge on the government’s side, they are all your subordinates.

How can you be held hostage by the opinions of your subordinates.

Now look what happened, by proposing such an outrageous plan, it’s not only become a laughingstock but also made it difficult for Misha.

If the plans you submitted could be just a tad bit credible, he wouldn’t have had to send it back to you.

Misha, you agree, don’t you?"

With that, the father-in-law turned his head to look at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye smiled and nodded, agreeing with him:

"I support the increase of the budget ceiling, but don’t forget, for the past two years in a row, it was me who took the initiative to let the government side increase the budget expenditure, not to cut your budget.

However, this increase must be controllable and reasonable.

It must match next year’s GDP growth rate.

Because in my philosophy, getting more money means doing more work!

Slacking off or even sabotaging while getting paid is something I cannot ignore."

Wang Ye once again made his stance clear, he didn’t oppose increasing the budget expenditure, but the increase had to be well-regulated.

And there must be a commitment to what kind of results could be achieved next year!

It also served to put some pressure on the government side, to ensure they didn’t just slack off without doing real work!

Moreover, through the words of both the father-in-law and Gavriil, Wang Ye could tell that although on the surface they were rebuking Medvedev and defending Wang Ye.

But that was just on the surface, the real undercurrent in their words was to have Wang Ye "extend his grace", to allow for a more flexible budget for the government side.

This was understandable.

After all, Medvedev was completely under the control of the Kremlin, representing the will of the Kremlin, so naturally, they would also favor him a bit more.

Because helping Medvedev was essentially helping the Kremlin itself...

Therefore, Wang Ye did make some concessions, agreeing to increase the limit, but the extent could not be too great, and there had to be corresponding promises.

......

The father-in-law and Gavriil exchanged glances, the father-in-law nodded slightly.

Gavriil immediately laughed and said, "Haha, I think Misha makes a lot of sense, simply taking money without doing work is not okay!

Medvedev, it’s your turn to make a statement now, what will the GDP growth rate be able to reach next year?

The report card you turned in this year is very impressive, surely next year won’t be lower than this year, right?"

Medvedev’s face was a bitter smile, he truly didn’t dare to guarantee next year would be stronger than this one...

Because the GDP growth rate achieved by selling energy was always unstable and could be easily affected by external factors.

Plus, he didn’t have much say in the energy industry, even though he once served as the president of the Russian Gas Industry, it was useless because everyone was clear that there was only one real decision-maker in the domestic energy industry.

That was Mikhail!

Only he could truly influence crude oil, natural gas, coal, and even the aluminum and gold industries.

Medvedev turned his gaze to Wang Ye, seeking his opinion, or rather to hear what Wang Ye would say about the energy industry next year.

Would prices continue to soar, remain stable, or was there a risk of a decline?

Each possibility could have a significant impact on next year’s GDP!