Belgium's Reynders welcomes French tax exiles, says France must 'accept the consequences'

PARIS – Belgium's foreign minister says his country will welcome anyone from France who wants to follow actor Gerard Depardieu in escaping higher taxes.

Didier Reynders says Tuesday it's France's own fault if its citizens are leaving the country, and it shouldn't try to push the blame off on Belgium.

Reynders says in an interview in the French newspaper Le Figaro that France has no one else to blame. The country, he says, should "accept the consequences."

Last week Depardieu announced his intention to turn in his French passport and move to Nechin, Belgium, a village that has drawn other high-earning French residents.