Karl Lagerfeld slams French president as “imbecile”October 19, 2012 - 18:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Paris-based German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has slammed the French president as “an imbecile” whose “disastrous” policies “will drive the rich out of France”. The comments were made in an interview for the Spanish edition of Marie Claire magazine, extracts of which were published on the website of Spanish daily El Mundo on Friday, Oct 18, France24 reported. “This imbecile, he’ll be just as disastrous as [former Spanish premier José Luis] Zapatero,” he told the magazine, which he is guest editing for its 25th anniversary. Hollande hates the rich. He clearly wants to punish them - they’ll leave [the country] and nobody will invest,” he said. “Foreigners won’t invest, and things will stop working. Apart from fashion, jewellery, perfume and wine, France has no edge," said Lagerfeld. "Nothing else sells. Who buys French cars? Not me.” Just two weeks ago, France’s richest man, businessman Bernard Arnault, pledged to move to Belgium to escape Hollande’s stiff tax increases on the rich, including a proposed 75% tax rate on incomes of more than €1 million. Laurence Parisot, the CEO of powerful French business federation Medef, told French radio RTL on Thursday that while Lagerfeld “has talent, he is also a provocateur and can be rude. (...) Hollande is certainly not an imbecile.” Lagerfeld also accused the king of Spain, Juan Carlos, of not being good enough for his wife, Queen Sofia, who the designer said he “adored”. “The queen is the most gallant person in the world. She shouldn't have to put up with the king’s foolishness,” he said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes. Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036. Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |