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Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

vox.com

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Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#51

Post by magicalist »

Barrin92 wrote: post #34
magicalist wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's not moral behavior. Getting a second citizenship?

Buying one. Citizenship is something that ought to be earned and given to people who show that they want to live in and contribute to a country. People like Schmidt purchase themselves a tax excemption or freedom of movement in a world where ordinary people right now lose their jobs and are locked into their country.

> Citizenship is something that ought to be earned and given to people who show that they want to live in and contribute to a country.

I mean, first, citizenship is made up. Many people have dual citizenship, and many countries will give you citizenship for ancestorship. And, of course, most countries offer citizenship to newborns who aren't contributing much and don't currently care about the country they're living in (and some countries, like the US, do so for babies born in the US to people who aren't citizens).

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#52

Post by bduerst »

DSingularity wrote: post #43
CalChris wrote: post #21

Cyprus is the easiest (if expensive) way to get an EU passport which is useful for travel. I don't read much past that. He already has an army of lawyers and accountants to deal with his taxes. https://www.goldenvisas.com/cyprus

Why do you think Eric has problems traveling?

Americans are currently blocked from travel to many countries, European included, due to the bungling of their Covid 19 response.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#53

Post by DyslexicAtheist »

eatmyshorts wrote: post #40
esarbe wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bailing on your taxes. Or what else do you think he's doing it for?

He'll have to renounce his US citizenship, which means he would never again be able to set foot in the US (even for "connecting flights").

wait. if you renounce your citizenship you are denied entry? wouldn't he be able to just travel to the US under the same rules as any other Cypriot citizen?

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#54

Post by FDSGSG »

bduerst wrote: post #47
CalChris wrote: post #21

Cyprus is the easiest (if expensive) way to get an EU passport which is useful for travel. I don't read much past that. He already has an army of lawyers and accountants to deal with his taxes. https://www.goldenvisas.com/cyprus

Yep. Before Brexit, it used to be St. Kitts where you would get citizenship.

What did Brexit change for St. Kitts nationals? I hold a St. Kitts passport (via marriage) and completely missed this.

Only reason my wives family got St. Kitts passports was because it was easier and quicker than Cyprus at the time, but they did eventually get their Cyprus passports too.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#57

Post by Mediterraneo10 »

eatmyshorts wrote: post #40
esarbe wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bailing on your taxes. Or what else do you think he's doing it for?

He'll have to renounce his US citizenship, which means he would never again be able to set foot in the US (even for "connecting flights").

I don't know why you got that idea from. Those who renounce their US citizen might have some bureaucratic hassles when they wish to revisit the US, depending on what other passport they hold, but ex-US citizens regularly travel back to the US for leisure or to see family.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#58

Post by lumberjack »

I cannot stand this manufactured outcry over a nothing burger.

The EU wanted to make a big deal out of selling citizenship. Like how DARE Cyprus sell citizenship that comes with EU membership! No, rich people should sign up for an """investment""" VISA from the Netherlands instead! That's how they should be let in. The Netherlands is an honorable upstanding country that most definitely would NEVER allow questionable people to get into the EU, definitely no mafia clans or terrorists, not like that place is a hub for narcotics and weapons trafficking. But Cyprus, bunch of brown quasi-orientals selling EU membership! How DARE they!

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#59

Post by thisisnico »

magicalist wrote: post #32
zeruch wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The act is not in question...its the motives that are.

Well, the article says it's unknown why, but even speculating what nefarious things could you do with it? Cyprus is part of the EU.

This is the real problem. The EU shouldn't allow sale of citizenship in host countries, essentially paying a way to get into the EU. I highly doubt that would be possible to enforce though.

Re: Eric Schmidt has applied to become a citizen of Cyprus

#60

Post by bpodgursky »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #6

I don't blame him for taking advantage of the system. What I blame him for is all of his supposed altruistic bloviating. No different than a Russian oligarch.

Unless/until he gives up US citizenship (and leaves the US), this makes no difference in tax law. US citizens are taxed internationally.
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