Posted on 12/16/2012 7:23:06 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Gérard Depardieu has said he is handing back his French passport and social security card, lambasting the French government for punishing "success, creation, talent" in his homeland.
A popular and colourful figure in France, the 63-year-old actor is the latest wealthy Frenchman to seek shelter outside his native country by buying a house just over the border in Belgium in response to tax increases by the Socialist president, François Hollande.
The prime minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, described Depardieu's behaviour as pathetic and unpatriotic at a time when the French are being asked to pay higher taxes to reduce a bloated national debt.
"Pathetic, you said pathetic? How pathetic is that?" Depardieu said in a letter to the weekly newspaper le Journal du Dimanche.
"I am leaving because you believe that success, creation, talent, anything different must be sanctioned," he said.
An angry member of parliament has proposed that France adopt a US-inspired law that would force Depardieu or anyone trying to escape full tax dues to forgo their nationality.
The Cyrano de Bergerac star recently bought a house in Nechin, a Belgian village a short walk from the border with France where 27% of residents are French nationals, and put his sumptuous Parisian home up for sale.
Depardieu has also inquired about procedures for acquiring Belgian residency.
He said he had paid 145m (£120m) in taxes since beginning work as a printer at the age of 14.
"People more illustrious than me have gone into [tax] exile. Of all those that have left none have been insulted as I have."
The actor's move comes three months after Bernard Arnault, chief executive of the luxury goods giant LVMH and France's richest man, caused uproar by seeking to establish residency in Belgium a move he said was not for tax reasons.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
How’s that European Union Thingy working for you France?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union
Of course they’re upset - he’s getting away with their money!
Of course they’re upset - he’s getting away with their money!
Another FRENCHMAN SURRENDERS to the tax Nazis!
Well, France’s prime minister could always put up a Berlin wall around the border to keep the French in. The East Germans tried that with some success. Or he could just lower taxes so people don’t want to leave.... Nahhh.
Go Gerard!!
Typically it’s a two stage process: step 1, become a Belgian citizen; step 2 (a couple of years later), become a Monaco citizen. Monaco doesn’t allow French citizens to become Monaco citizens directly (so as not to piss off the neighbors).
I’m liking this guy!
Taxes??
But according to local Mayor Daniel Senesael, "I think he wanted to enjoy the atmosphere in Belgium, our identity, the rural, bucolic setting," Senesael told RTL radio.
"So long, Stinktown!"
In 70s Bjorn Borg moved from Sweden to Monaco for tax avoidance.
This is not new, and is predictable. Britain is losing high income tax filers, because of increased tax rates.
Of course theyre upset - hes getting away with their money!
They also hate the fact that he is exercising his God-given freedom to move in the face of being robbed. Many of these socialists likely believe the government should control where you live.
Where does it end? Tax rates like this are robbery - pure and simple - defined as the taking of one’s property by another through the use of force or implied use of force.
A lot of Brits found other places to live back in the 70’s over high taxes.
Sean Connery lived in Spain, Julie Andrews in the US, Benny Hill had an address in France to avoid the British tax rates at that time.
The Beatles put up with high taxation but did a song about it called “Taxman” with lyrics like “one for you, nineteen for me......”
[[Gérard Depardieu has said he is handing back his French passport and social security card, lambasting the French government for punishing “success, creation, talent” in his homeland.]]
He might not want ot live in the us- dear leader here is set to punish success too
That does not seem too unreasonable :^)
Obviously in his younger years. Now days, he’s just a 63 year old bloated, overweight, pot-bellied semi-retired actor. Still, wish him all the best.
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