Gérard Depardieu is no longer an honorary citizen of the Belgian commune of Estaimpuis

The commune of Estaimpuis, in Belgium, has withdrawn from Gérard Depardieu his title of honorary citizen of the commune awarded in 2013

Gérard Depardieu was deprived on Saturday of the title of honorary citizen of the commune of Estaimpuis, in Belgium, which had awarded it to him in the summer of 2013 when he resided there, announced the municipal authorities. The remarks made by the French actor in the program “Complément d’investigation” on France 2 “vgo against the values ​​advocated by the commune of Estaimpuis“, justified in a press release the mayor and the (deputy) aldermen who took this decision.

The presumption of innocence flouted

In a report for “Complément d’investigation” broadcast at the beginning of December, the former sacred monster of French cinema multiplies the misogynistic and insulting remarks while addressing women, not sparing a little girl with his obscene remarks. The withdrawal of this honorary title in Belgium is announced at a time when in France a “disciplinary procedure” is looming which could lead to the loss of his Legion of Honor by Gérard Depardieu.

Through his lawyers, the actor replied on Saturday that he was putting his prestigious award “available” from the French Minister of Culture. The lawyers have once again denounced a violation of the presumption of innocence of the man who is targeted in France by two complaints for rape and sexual assault but has not yet been judged.

Against a backdrop of growing controversy in France, several Belgian media have reported in recent days the return of Gérard Depardieu to Belgium, still in the region of Tournai (west) near France, as in 2012-2013. The municipality of Tournai confirmed to AFP that the actor – who will be 75 at the end of December – lived in a house on the slopes of Mont-Saint-Aubert, a village which depends on this commune. He has been living there for around two months, according to the same source.

Criticism for tax evasion

“For me, he’s a citizen like any other, neither more nor less“, declared the mayor of Tournai, Paul-Olivier Delannois, quoted by the Belga agency. The councilor said he did not know the reason for this new crossing of the Franco-Belgian border by the actor.

At the end of 2012, Gérard Depardieu settled in the Belgian border village of Néchin, sparking strong criticism, up to the highest level of the State, over the supposed intention to escape the French tax system. This village in the commune of Estaimpuis is known for having attracted several large French fortunes, notably from the Mulliez family (Auchan group).

“I am a citizen of the World (…) I settled in this village mainly for its calm“, dismissed Gérard Depardieu at the time. His stay there had been relatively brief, but on August 19, 2013 the Estaimpuis municipal college decided to make him an honorary citizen for “his fabulous acting career“.