Light Dims on Jean’s Bid for Haitian Presidency

According to an unnamed member of Haiti’s provisional electoral council, Fugee founder and hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean has been deemed ineligible to run for his country’s presidency. Jean, who no longer lives in Haiti, had announced his intent to run last month, stirring excitement among the country’s disillusioned youth. —JCL

The Guardian:

The hip-hop star Wyclef Jean’s bid to become the president of Haiti appeared to be in doubt last night after an election official said he was not on the list of candidates for the 28 November poll.

The singer’s presidential bid has electrified the earthquake-stricken country’s election campaign. But yesterday a member of the country’s provisional electoral council, who asked not to be named, told Reuters: “He is not on the list as I speak.”

The official added that the country’s electoral disputes office had ruled that Jean’s candidacy did not meet several legal requirements.

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AP / Diane Bondareff

Wyclef Jean is overcome with emotion during a news conference in New York last January after a visit to his quake-stricken homeland.