Putin’s Passport Offer to Gerard Depardieu: One More “Oligarch” For Moscow?
- January 4th, 2013
- Posted by 7thmin
OPINION: A reality check for Gerard Depardieu (picture): the tax-averse French actor and multi-millionaire has been invited by Russia to become a citizen there – and if he really wants, to say goodbye to France forever.
Mr Depardieu, a hugely loved and accomplished performer, became a symbol of his native country through 114 films or tele-movies made since 1971; in the world of unreality as an ordinary bloke battling comically against all odds, a Frenchman abroad, or an historical leader of humankind.
In the world of unreality, Gerard Depardieu is already a familiar figure in the labyrinth of French politics and law enforcement, whether from gangster films, as the revolutionary Danton, or even as Napolean’s chief of police.
In the real world, the ordinary bloke from around Chateauroux, South of Paris, has been bitchin’ for some time about paying celebrity range-income tax, aggravated by efforts of the new Socialist Party government to impose a 75% top rate on the highest earners.
(Not a wealth tax, the 75% put forward by the socialists in the national election campaigns last year; is set to be imposed on earnings over €1- million a year -A$1.25-million p.a,; xe.com, 4.1.13) – and is in any case now blocked in the courts).
Mr Depardieu says a decision he made to move to Belgium was a response to the tax collectors, but for that he would need to have actual citizenship in another country.
The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has now tweeted that the actor can become a Russian if he likes, in recognition of his cultural contribution, playing Rasputin in 2011; see President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E
The “French Bloke†from Central Casting, a Chevalier of the Legion d’Honneur since 1996, holder of six European film awards (three French, one Russian), has the chance to, as it were, put his money where his mouth is.
Will we see a move to Moscow?
Gerard Depardieu, 67, while there might find time to reflect on a truly illustrious acting career, taking in richly memorable moments and titles, not least, in 2002, Napolean (including the retreat from Moscow), and in 1989, I Want to Go Home.
Reference
Forbes, NY, “French tax exile Gerard Depardieu gains Russian citizenshipâ€, 3.1.13.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/01/03/french-tax-exile-gerard-depardieu-gains-russian-citizenship/, (4.1.13).
Wikipedia, SF, Gerard Depardieu. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%A9rard_Depardieu, (4.1.13).
Kim Willsher, “Putin offers Gérard Depardieu Russian citizenshipâ€, The Guardian, Manchester, 3.1.13. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/03/depardieu-russian-citizenship, (4.1.13).
Picture wikipedia