CEO, France'S Richest Man, Louis Weedon Denied Changing His Nationality For Tax Evasion.

Arnaud, the group's chief executive, is applying for Belgian citizenship, triggering controversy over the "rich tax" in France.

France

Louis Weedon, chief executive of LVMH and Bernard Arnaud, the French richest man, recently applied to join Belgium nationality.

Many media said Arnaud's move was suspected of "tax evasion". Arnaud said on the 9 day that although he was applying for Belgium nationality, he would not be a tax escaper.

The "defection" of the richest man has again triggered controversy over France's tax collection measures for the rich.

The richest person applies for dual nationality.

A Belgian media has recently revealed that Arnaud, the richest man in France, is applying for Belgium nationality.

Dara Magni, chairman of the Belgian immigration Committee, said that Arnaud's application had been put on record at the end of August and will be dealt with similarly with other applicants.

He said the whole process will last until the beginning of next year.

Louis Weedon group has issued a statement confirming the above information.

The statement said Arnaud was "and is still" a French taxpayer.

"The dual nationality of France and Belgium will not change this situation, nor will it change its determination to develop the Louis Weedon group and its employment opportunities for France."

Louis Weedon group said that Arnaud from northern France had deep roots in Belgium in his work and personal life.

His Private Companies "Arnaud group" has many investments in Belgium.

Against this background, Arnaud decided to apply for dual nationality in France and Belgium.

According to a magazine in the US, the 63 year old Arnaud has about 41 billion yuan (260 billion yuan) assets, ranking fourth in the world's richest list and the first in the European rich list.

Denying "tax evasion"

Although Arnaud denied that applying for Belgium nationality was out of order.

Why, but his application is still causing a great stir.

Some politicians accused Arnaud of applying for Belgium's nationality for tax evasion and betrayal of France.

French leftists accused Arnaud of "betraying" and "insulting" France, and his behavior was "irresponsibility and greed".

According to a media report in France, Arnaud met with French Prime Minister Jean Makero last week, warning him that special taxes on the rich would have horrible consequences.

In response, a spokesman for Louis Weedon group said that when Arnaud met with Mark Eero, he talked about "politics, French competitiveness and tax issues".

Arnaud said on the 9 day that he was applying for Belgium nationality, but would not be a tax escaper.

He said, "I am now and will be a French taxpayer. I will perform my financial responsibilities as well as other French people."

However, some media analysts said that if Arnaud applied for Belgium nationality successfully, he would choose to pay taxes in Belgium instead of paying taxes for France.

The rich tax or the rich "collective escape"?

During his election campaign, French President Hollande once advocated and promised that taxpayers who had annual income of 1 million euros (or more than 8 million 110 thousand yuan) would be subject to 75% tax.

Some media speculated that the policy would be "aborted", but French finance minister Moss has denied this speculation and will make this policy at the end of this month and formally write into the 2013 budget.

Some media commented that the tax plan of French President Hollande would cause "collective escape" of the rich class in France.

Exergy analysis

"Hollande is elected sequela"

France's tax dispute against the rich is also a continuation of the economic differences between the two political forces around the presidential election.

In the 2012 presidential election, Sarkozy, the former president of the right wing, hoped to reduce the burden on enterprises and reform the high welfare system to improve the economic competitiveness of France; while Hollande argued that maintaining existing welfare, reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, and collecting high income tax on the millions of high income people with annual income are one of the most appealing claims in his campaign.

As the left wing Socialist Party took full charge of the French regime, Hollande gradually implemented the campaign promise. The president and government officials first took the initiative to reduce wages, then restricted the salaries of executives of state-owned public enterprises, and also abolished a series of reasonable tax avoidance measures implemented by the Sarkozy administration.