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Nation which began as joke mourns its leader and greatest ambassador

The Scotsman - Top Stories - Nation which began as joke mourns its leader and greatest ambassador

SUSAN BELL
IN PARIS

IT WAS created as a joke and is not shown on any map, yet since it was founded in 1947 the Free Republic of Saugeais has boasted a president, a prime minister, customs officers and a national anthem.

Now the tiny, little-known independent state in eastern France has been thrust into the limelight following the death of its beloved president, Gabrielle Pourchet, who died last week aged 99.

Named after the upper valley of the River Doubs, a region near the Swiss border known since the 12th century as the Saugeais Valley, the 1,000-square-kilometre Republic of Saugeais lists 4,500 citizens and includes 11 municipalities.

Mme Pourchet had governed Saugeais for more than 30 years and was credited with having introduced the minuscule state to a wider public. Under her presidency a banknote was released in 1997 and the French postal service celebrated the republic with a stamp in 1987.

On Saturday, hundreds of Saugets flocked to the republic's capital of Montbenoit to pay their last respects to their president at her funeral in the 12th-century abbey.

During the ceremony the Saugeais national anthem was sung in local dialect by the fire brigade from Gilley, a village described by Saugets as the republic's economic capital.

"Thanks to her we had lots of television coverage," said Louis Perrey, the republic's general secretary. "She was someone with great media presence who had an exemplary lack of affectation. She was an extraordinary woman."

Farmer Jean-Marie Nicod, who is prime minister, said: "She had an exceptional aura."

It will fall to him to serve as an interim president until the question of the succession is solved. In the meantime, he declined to comment on what the future holds for the Republic. "Let us bury our dead first," he said.

Gabrielle Pourchet arrived in Montbenoit, aged 25, with her husband, Georges, to manage the hotel attached to the abbey.

According to popular legend, it was Georges Pourchet's light-hearted teasing which caused the Republic of Saugeais to be founded 58 years ago during a visit to Montbenoit by the prefect - the senior government official for the Doubs region.

While the prefect was eating lunch in the Hôtel de l'Abbaye, Mr Pourchet jokingly asked him: "Do you have a pass allowing you to enter the Republic of Saugeais?"

The prefect asked for more details on the republic, and eventually answered: "A republic must have a president. You are hereby appointed president of the Free Republic of Saugeais."

Mr Pourchet died in 1968, and for four years Saugeais had no president. Mrs Pourchet retired in 1970 and spent two years helping the parish priest restore the abbey.

She was elected president of Saugeais for life in 1972 by her fellow citizens during a lunch given to raise funds for the abbey preservation.

Under her rule, visitors to Saugeais were required to pass through customs, and needed an official laissez-passer to enter the republic. This pass was decorated with a ribbon in the Saugeais colours and seal delivered by the president.

The republic also has its own black, red and yellow flag embellished with the Saugeais coat of arms, a government with a prime minister, 12 ambassadors and two customs officers who sport black caps adorned with the letters RS in gold.

French authorities have traditionally treated the breakaway republic with tolerance and amusement. Mrs Pourchet was even made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1977 - one of the highest French honours.

However, diplomatic relations with France cooled in 2001 when the tiny state adopted its own constitution.

The presidential succession will be decided next month.

September 5, 2005 at 12:59 AM in Europe | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home