Gerard Depardieu Hands In His French Passport In Tax Hike Protest

Gerard Depardieu Hands In His French Passport In Tax Hike Protest

Eccentric French actor Gerard Depardieu wants to move to Belgium of all places, and he wants to do it so much that he’s written a letter to French prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault saying that he’ll hand in his French passport and social security to complete the move. Most people tend to move to Belgium after watching the film In Bruges and deciding they fancy a bit of what Colin Farrell’s having. Students mainly. However, in Depardieu’s case it appears he just doesn’t fancy paying the recently introduced tax hike and so is looking to move to the town of Nechin.

Depardieu has been singled out by the country’s socialist party for his desire to move, with one MP arguing that he should be stripped of his nationality for what’s seen to be a refusal to help the tough economic situation facing France. He appears to have called their bluff however. "I am handing over to you my passport and social security, which I have never used," he said in the letter, according to The Daily Telegraph. "We no longer have the same homeland, I am a true European, a citizen of the world, as my father always taught me to believe." His conclusion read: "Despite my excesses, my appetite and love for life, I am a free being, Sir, and will remain polite."

The letter pointed out that Depardieu has always paid his taxes, to the total of some £118 million over 45 years. He also pointed out that he employed some 80 people and said that he deserved “respect”. The new tax hike introduced by France will see millionaires pay 75% more than previous.