Bernard Arnault -- the richest man in France and the world's fourth wealthiest -- has applied for Belgian citizenship, in an effort to avoid paying a new 75 percent tax on incomes above one million euros in France.
Although Belgian law requires applicants for citizenship to have had at least three years of residency in Belgium, Arnault will probably not be subject to this requirement, because he has owned a home in Brussels, Belgium for many years.
Arnault's desire to obtain Belgian citizenship has been criticized by many people in France, who fear that this is just a first step to his future financial exile in France.
France's "Liberation" newspaper made fun of Arnault's decision to obtain Belgian citizenship by printing a headline on its front page titled "Get Lost, You Rich Idiot." Arnault is suing the the newspaper for printing this epithet, claiming it is vulgar and violent.
We believe that Arnault has the right to obtain citizenship in Belgium in order to pay less taxes; however, such a change in citizenship should mean that he will lose the benefits that accompany being a citizen in France.
In other words, Arnault -- regardless of how much money he has -- must not be a citizen of France and a citizen of Belgium simultaneously. He can be a citizen of one country or the other, but not both.
As for suing the "Liberation" newspaper for printing "Get Lost, You Rich Idiot," it appears that Arnault does not have much of a case.
The fact is that newspapers have freedom of the press, so they may criticize public officials and prominent people.
True, newspapers can be sued for libel -- that is, damaging a person's character by defamatory printing or images -- but that does not appear to be the case in this situation.
We believe that the "Liberation" is simply printing a humorous epithet of Arnault because of his decision to "betray" his native country.
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