Wyclef Jean confirms he's running for president of Haiti

He took center stage leading the Haiti earthquake relief, and now Wyclef Jean has confirmed he's running for president of his native country. Jean told Time.com he plans to announce his candidacy Thursday on "Larry King Live", just days shy of Saturday's deadline.

Reported by NYDailyNews.com on 4 August 2010



"If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this," the Haitian-born superstar said Tuesday night. "The quake drove home to me that Haiti can't wait another 10 years for us to bring it into the 21st century." Jean, 37, collected donations for earthquake relief through his charity, Yele Haiti.

"If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president, then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything," said Jean, who was raised in Brooklyn. "My decision is a draft," Jean said in a video posted on Time.com. "I've been drafted by the youth."

The former Fugees singer's Yele Foundation has worked to raise funds to help the island nation recover from the devastating earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds of people in January. Jean's family released a statement last week saying "Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless."

In order to run for President of Haiti, Jean will need to prove he has resided in the country for at least five consecutive years, according to The Star-Ledger. He would also need to show he is not a citizen of another country (he is actually not a U.S. citizen, but is considered a "resident.")

Jean is expected to announce his decision on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Thursday. The election is Nov. 28.

 

Haiti will need a competent leader who has no intention on continuing corruption of the state. I wish him the best.

 

No experience, dude, no experience:smt011

 

He will have people guiding him. So his lack of experience shouldnt be that much of a hindrance.

 

He ripped off the people who were sending in donations to his charity for the Haiti earthquake relief.

 

Well thats nonsense....I think some people got it wrong

 

He riped them off? where is the proof?

 

This country is not the usa or uk. He isn't a regular citizen. He won't know who to trust.

 

Yeah, thats true.But, I do think his fame will provide the country with much needed aid.

 

True, he should've worked his way up maybe...run for mayor of jacmel or gonaives then maybe go for president.

 

I don't know how he is going to pull this off. Governing a country is easier said than done.

 

all this talk and he still hasn't won. We are a bit premature. lol

 

who is this running for Haitian president? never heard of him

 

He was part of the musical group The Fugees with Lauryn Hil.

 

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He is in dreamland. He would not get things done there since the light skinned elites and others will not give up their wealth. Look what happened to Aristide. He tried to get reparations from France and got overthrown.

 

:smt030

bet if someone said Bryant Gumble was running for President of Haiti (imagine that), you'd know

 

Most Haitians wouldn't know.

 

didnt know Tuck was Haitian



as for Wyclef, I think some sort of formalized political experience, would have benefited him personally. Just listening to people without being able to 'effectively' analyze, breakdown and understand the impetus for what they say, sounds like a recipe for disaster. Kinda like winging your political science final when you think about it. lol

then again, maybe i'm wrong.

 

I believe you are right. Wyclef hasn't been that deep into to Haitian politics. I doubt he will win though. I'm not sure how ell known he is withing haiti.