Wyclef Not Eligible To Run For President of Haiti

Ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean, who had publicly declared his intent to run for president of his native Haiti, has been declared ineligible by the Haitian Provisional Electoral Council, the body that decides who can, and connot, run for office. Though the Council does not provide the reasons for ineligibility, Wyclef’s camp states that the decision was due to the determination that Wyclef is not currently considered a resident of Haiti.

Wyclef has been a vocal supporter, helping Haiti after the devastating earthquake in January, both with his celebrity status, as well as through his non-profit organization, Yele Haiti. In recent months however, Yele Haiti has come under increased scrutiny, after reports of fund mismanagement and other improprieties were revealed.

Wyclef’s candidacy sparked up a brief war of words between him and Sean Penn, another celebrity who has worked tirelessly on behalf of the ravaged Caribbean nation, and did not seem favorable toward a Wyclef run. Wyclef’s old Fugees bandmate, Pras, also threw his support behind a different candidate, though he did not publicly express animosity toward Wyclef.

Jean told CNN he respects the Electoral Council’s decision, but that he was surprised by it, leaving open the door to continue to seek the office by stating, “We will see if we will appeal it or not”.

He was among 15 other candidates who were also declared ineligible.

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