THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT

After the successful coup the conspirators established a government whose composition reflected the interests of those associated with the revolt. Replacing the prince as the executive power were three regents, General Nicholas Golescu, Colonel Nicholas Haralambie, and Lascar Catargiu. Ion Ghica, as premier and foreign minister, headed a ministry that included both Liberals and Conservatives, with, among others, Dimitrie Ghica as minister of interior, Ion C. Cantacuzino as minister of justice, Peter Mavrogheni as minister of finance, C. A. Rosetti as minister of education and religious institutions, and Major Dimitrie Lecca as minister of war.

The assembly that had been chosen after Cuza's coup remained in place and was now called upon to ratify the choice of the foreign prince named by the revolutionary leaders – Philip of Flanders. This candidate, the brother of the king of Belgium, had not been previously consulted on his selection, and he refused the office. The principal task of the new government then became to find another candidate as soon as possible. As long as the uncertainty existed, the country was in a precarious political situation. Moreover, the internal economic conditions were very bad. The state had a debt of twenty-one million lei. Until a stable regime could be established, this situation could not be adequately dealt with.

The ouster of Cuza was accompanied by a repudiation of many of the changes he had made in the political structure of the state.