French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault is criticizing those he calls the "greedy rich" for fleeing from high taxes.

The London Telegraph reports he made the statement after famous French actor Gerard Dépardieu moved to Belgium seeking lower taxes.

France's most famous actor established legal residence in a village just over the border where hundreds of affluent French nationals have moved to avoid the tax hikes.

"Those who are seeking exile abroad are not those who are scared of becoming poor," the prime minister said, but rather "because they want to get even richer."

"We cannot fight poverty if those with the most, and sometimes with a lot, do not show solidarity and a bit of generosity," the prime minister said.

French President Francois Hollande announced he will tax those who earn more than 1 million euros a year at 75 percent.