Not for playing Cyrano or Obelix, but for his citizenship identity crisis. A famous French film star, Dépardieu criticized the Socialist French government for trying to impose a 75% tax on his substantial income claiming that he had paid a hefty tax for his entire working career and that the 75% tax proposed was the last straw. Although the law was struck down by a French court, the actor said that he had had enough of paying French taxes and that he was ready to move to Belgium and give up his French citizenship, especially after he was heavily criticized by important members of the French government.
For memory, the famous Swedish director, writer and producer Ingmar Bergman, considered by many to be one of the most accomplished and influential film directors of all time, left Sweden and lived in exile in Germany for eight years over a criminal tax evasion charge. Although the charges were later dropped, Bergman suffered severe depression and later said he lost eight years of his professional life. Even the Swedish Prime Minister, Olaf Palme, pleaded with him to return.
Dépardieu, besides making headlines in France and Belgium, has now made headlines in Russia. Indeed, President Putin signed a decree on January 3 granting citizenship to the (French? Belgian?) actor. And, as befits a newly naturalized citizen, he immediately flew to Russia where he was welcomed with open arms by the President who had previously said that the actor would be welcome in Russia which has a flat income tax rate of 13 percent. Dépardieu, not known as an expert in international relations, had declared Russia “a great democracy”. Waving his new passport, Dépardieu was shown on television just outside Moscow where he was celebrated by local officials who even found a local costume to fit over the actor’s rather hefty frame. He was even offered a position as Minister of Culture in the region of Mordovia in Siberia.
The French budget minister was quoted as saying, “I find it a little ridiculous that for tax reasons this man has gone into exile so far to the East”. But Dépardieu has not gone into exile. He seems to be making rational decisions based on his taxable income.
Is citizenship a rational choice? Most people are citizens of a country based on parents, birthplace or a naturalization process. Dépardieu, unlike millions of refugees and asylum seekers, has the luxury of being able to choose his citizenship based on fame and fortune. The French are angry because they feel he is snubbing his emotional identity. The Russians are happy to be able to snub the French and to show that Russia is more hospitable than France.
Behind all the ballyhoo is an increasing realization that citizenship has become a commodity that can be bought and sold. Rather than a deep emotional attachment which includes flags, anthems, history and culture, citizenship has become globalized. Many people have multiple passports. Behind the obvious buffoonery of Dépardieu is the serious question of the meaning of citizenship in the interconnected, interdependent, modern world.