Adieu France! After stocking up on his favourite cheese Gerard Depardieu lands in Rome after 'renouncing citizenship'

He was spotted stocking up on his favourite cheese before flying to Italy - sparking rumours that Gerard Depardieu has finally left France for good after publicly renouncing his citizenship.
The 63-year-old was wheeled out of Caimpino Airport in Rome after publicly slamming the introduction of a new top rate of tax in France in January 2013.
It is unclear whether the actor famous for his roles as Cyrano de Bergerac and Astérix the Gaul’s sidekick Obélix, is just on a short break in Rome or if he is on his way to Belguim, where it is rumoured he will settle.

 

The start of a new life? Gerard arrives in Rome after stocking up on French cheese in Paris, sparking rumours he is leaving his homeland for good

In an angry letter, published in Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper, Mr Depardieu said he had been 'insulted' by France's Prime Minister Mr Ayrault who called him pathetic for wanting to leave France for Belgium to avoid the new 75 per cent top rate of tax.
Mr Depardieu wrote: 'I was born in 1948.
'I started working aged 14, as a printer, as a warehouseman, then as an actor, and I’ve always paid my taxes.'

 

Taking a snooze: Gerard was seen stocking on French cheese after he renounced new French tax laws

Over 45 years, Depardieu said, he had paid 145 million euros in tax, and to this day employs 80 people.
Last year he paid taxes amounting to 85 per cent of his income.
'I am neither worthy of pity nor admirable, but I shall not be called 'pathetic’,' he concluded, saying that he was sending back his French passport.

 

Easy does it! Gerard arrives in Italy, bit will it be a short break or is he en route to Belgium?

Under French President François Hollande’s tough new budget measures to tackle a €37million deficit, France will tax income over €1million at 75 per cent of January 1.
The Belgian Foreign Minister has given carte blanche to anyone planning to follow in Gerard Depardieu's footsteps and move to Belgium in an attempt to escape higher French taxes.
'If other French people want to come to Belgium, I'm not at all opposed,' Didier Reynders said in an interview with Le Figaro.