Dramatic turn of events in the Microfrancophonie: Prince Jean-Pierre IV slams the door!

It was a real earthquake that shook the Microfrancophonie this Friday, May 23, 2025 at 11:00 p.m.: Jean-Pierre IV, Prince of Aigues-Mortes, announced his resignation from the post of High Commissioner of the Organization of the MicroFrancophonie (OMF), a role he had held since the creation of the institution in 2015.

HSH, Prince Jean-Pierre IV, resigned High Commissioner of Microfrancophonie.

In a sober but serious statement, the now former High Commissioner spoke of "profound disagreements regarding the current direction of the Microfrancophonie" and deplored a "persistent disagreement with the Secretary General" making "it difficult to continue coherent and constructive work."

An old conflict rekindled by an ill-timed publication

Jean-Pierre IV's departure comes amid recurring tensions with Secretary General Dominic Desaintes. The latest spark came from a statement issued by the latter on May 22, concerning the delay in organizing internal elections.

Recalling that "the organization of the votes is the responsibility of the High Commissioner," Desaintes explained Jean-Pierre IV's lack of response despite several reminders. He concluded his message by emphasizing that these were "only facts" and "nothing personal."

But it's difficult to believe the neutrality of such a message given the history of conflicts between the two figures. This is especially true given that Jean-Pierre IV had previously stated that he was ill, something Desaintes himself acknowledged in his own message without, however, fully taking into account.

The statement was perceived as a public indictment, triggering several reactions among French-speaking micronationalists.

In Montreal in 2019, Dominic Desaintes hosted Jean-Pierre IV with the Imperial Couple of Angyalistan before joining MicroCon in Hamilton. The two men will meet again in the same city in June for MicroCon 2025. The atmosphere between them is unlikely to be as cordial, but rather reserved this time.

A shock wave in the organization

The Principality of Aigues-Mortes, through its representative, reacted vehemently: "Perhaps it would have been preferable to operate in a team spirit by simply taking over? […] The Secretary-General was informed of this state of health, and he said so himself!"

Even more striking: in the aftermath, Ciprian de Juclandia also announced his resignation from his position as Deputy Secretary-General, citing the need for "a complete renewal of all bodies." Other delegations expressed their unease, some deploring this escalation, others fully understanding it. Prince Jonathan I of Anthophilia is rightly concerned: "The Microfrancophonie will therefore find itself without a High Commissioner until the new charter is revised," or "The current charter provides nothing, and many things require the presence of a High Commissioner."

Dominic Desaintes remains firm in his position and clarifies that he is merely reiterating the statutory framework, believing it legitimate to respond transparently, hence a publication that is, to say the least, deleterious and intended for all representatives.

Regarding transparency, since it's a very fashionable word in certain political movements, it's as if the Microfrancophonie had just experienced its February 28, 2025, when Mr. Trump welcomed Mr. Zelensky into the Oval Room. Transparency is all well and good in concept, but it does a lot of damage when it's not done with genuine good intentions.

An organization on the verge of collapse

This crisis comes at a delicate time for the OMF: in the midst of preparations for elections to renew its membership and the review of its statutes. Now without a High Commissioner, the burden falls squarely on Dominic Desaintes, amid growing distrust.

But even more than personal feuds, this crisis reveals a deeper malaise.

"It is not for statutory reasons that the organization is sinking into such a slump today, but for personal reasons," analyses one observer. "Ego has become the main demon in an environment where camaraderie once reigned."

The organization, once festive and collegial, has gradually become politicized, sometimes divided over societal issues or power struggles. The successive departures—Princess Cloé of Sancratosia, Bernard of Austrasia, and now Jean-Pierre IV—seem to be the most visible symptoms.

Last summer in Grenoble, shortly before the Microfrancophonie summit, Dominic Desaintes and Jean-Pierre IV posed with Prince Rémi de Ferthroy. It was one of the last photos taken by the two men before a scandal involving interference in the internal communications of the Principality of Aigues-Mortes came to a head. Since then, relations between the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General have continued to deteriorate, despite several efforts at reconciliation.

And Now ?

The Microfrancophonie is going through the most serious crisis in its history. Never has it been so divided between disillusioned "old hands" and newcomers, sometimes organized into cliques.

The urgency is therefore not solely statutory or organizational. It is human. It is ethical. It is community-based. The Microfrancophonie will have to ask itself a crucial question: does it want to be a space for sharing, cooperation, and passion, or slide into the failings of the larger institutions of which it has always sought to be a lighter and more benevolent mirror?

Jean-Pierre IV elegantly bowed out without a hitch. He said it between the lines: there comes an age when it's better to be at peace with all this. It is now up to those who remain to learn the true lessons.