Jonathan Littell - Having Your Gateau and Eating it Too

It’s interesting to see how French newspapers and English-speaking newspapers chose to report the American-born author’s decision to become a French citizen.

Littell tells French newspaper ‘Le Figaro’ that he will retain his American citizenship, but because he had lived in France for a long time, he had applied for French citizenship. He added that it would make travel to certain countries such as Pakistan - easier.
English papers dwelled on the author’s past difficulty in trying to obtain citizenship papers (before he one the prestigious Goncourt book award)

Both French and English speaking newspapers noted that Littell had twice tried unsuccessfully to become a French citizen before higher government authorities facilitated his application (which he had given up hope of pursuing).

Every day throughout the world people are are standing in lines waiting for people to on other sides of a window, waiting for them to stamp a piece of paper that will make their life much easier (in certain aspects).

What the English papers didn’t emphasize was the reason Littell was denied citizenship in the first place. At the time of his application - he didn’t live in France for over six months of the year - which is one of the requirements. He lives in Barcelona, Spain.

The last sentence of the Figaro story (a crucial) which was not mentioned in some other news reports - it’s to Littell’s advantage (financially) to remain a resident in Barcelona, Spain.

Which brings us to the wealth tax (and why you don’t see many women flashing diamonds in this part of the world) i.e. if you haven’t , don’t flaunt it.

Even though Europe may call itself a European Union, as long as France maintains its wealth tax, few financially successful ’stars’ would choose France as their primary residence.
Is it time to reconsider the wealth tax?

Meanwhile, should you be able to have your cake and eat it too? Choosing to become a citizen - is it simply a matter of convenience - or conviction - and what does it really mean to become a dual citizen? I don’t know the answers to these questions - which is why I’m asking.