France’s controversial special tax rate rise on incomes above €1mn per year has taken on a larger-than-life dimension with actor Gerard Depardieu, who had already “exiled” himself across the border to Belgium, accepting Russian citizenship this week.
Handed his new passport by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Depardieu also described his new motherland as a “great democracy,” provoking much comment and titters on social media networks.
Compared to France, Russia has a flat income tax rate of 13%. Depardieu becomes eligible to pay this rate if he spends at least six months of the year in Russia.
The annual tax rate will go up to 30% on all income made locally and in other countries if he spends more than half the year abroad.
With more than 180 films and TV projects to his credit in Europe since he started working in the 1970s, the burly Depardieu claims to have $190mn so far in taxes since beginning work as a printer at the age of 14.
The actor was a keen supporter of ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy’s campaign ahead of the May presidential elections. The new tax rule being promoted by Sarkozy’s rival President Francois Hollande, aims to raise the tax rate on earnings of more than €1mn ($1.3mn) to 75%.
Critics question Depardieu’s action, and wonder if this is not a rather actorly tantrum that may wear off soon.
In a related though rather bizarre development, cinema legend and animal activist Brigitte Bardot has threatened to follow Depardieu in requesting for Russian citizenship unless French authorities intervened to save Baby and Nepal, two tuberculosis-afflicted elephants.
Food for thought
The Industrial Area, once the bedrock of Qatar’s production and storage activity, seems to have been left behind by the progress taking place elsewhere in the country.
Gulf Times has been reporting on the poor condition of roads in the Industrial Area, a plight further worsened by sewage water stagnating in puddles.
In need of attention in particular is the Street No. 36, designated for companies dealing with foodstuff. With most firms maintaining their warehouses in this locality, the danger of the unhygienic conditions spreading from the roads into the building complexes is quite high.
Business operators in the area have also expressed their worry over the potential spread of epidemics if the sewers are not repaired as soon as possible.
While consumers tend to gravitate towards shining new malls, they fail to realise that it is largely the storage facilities in the Industrial Area that are responsible for the goods that they so eagerly buy in the comfort of hypermarkets.
Economic activity cannot be arbitrary. Health and safety regulations at the retail points of sale should not be the only concern of civic authorities. Isn’t it equally important to ensure that road networks and facilities like those provided by the Industrial Area are properly maintained?