A very rude send-off for richest man in France
THE wealthiest man in France is to sue the country’s biggest Left-wing newspaper for running a front-page picture of him under the headline: ‘Get lost, you rich p***k!’
Liberation’s attack on Bernard Arnault, 63, worth around £32billion and also Europe’s richest man, came after his decision to seek Belgian nationality as President Francois Hollande prepares to introduce a 75 per cent tax rate for the super-wealthy.
Yesterday’s headline, with a picture of Mr Arnault smiling in front of an overnight travel bag, read: ‘Casse-toi riche con!’
News of his intention to quit France has prompted anger across the country, but Mr Arnault, whose LVMH luxury-goods group runs companies such as Dior, Dom Perignon and Louis Vuitton, insists his desire to become a Belgian has nothing to do with avoiding tax.
He claims he is moving for personal reasons and will continue paying taxes in France.
But few believe him, and Liberation was not alone in its attack.
Leftist politician Jean- Luc Melenchon said the country did not need such ‘ parasites’ and Socialist lawmaker Bruno Le Roux said Mr Arnault was ‘ betraying France’s recovery’.
Union leaders accused him of profiting from French workers only to take his wealth across the border, while the front page of the Communist daily l’Humanité read: ‘France, love it or leave it.’
Mr Arnault announced in a lawyer’s statement that he was suing Liberation for public insult over its headline, calling it vulgar and violent.
The newspaper’s deputy editor Sylvain Bourmeau described it as ‘primarily ironic humour’.
If Mr Arnault wins his case he is likely to get no more than one euro in damages.