Wyclef Jean’s Haitian presidency bid rejected
Wyclef Jean The former Fugees frontman announced he was planning to run in the country’s November elections earlier this month. He has said he was “confident” his candidacy would be accepted, and has been in hiding in the country for the past few days after receiving death threats.
Haiti’s electoral council has now officially banned Wyclef from the presidential race, leaving his name off the final list of candidates published yesterday. Electoral officials are believed to have rejected the 37-year-old musician’s bid because he has not lived in Haiti for the required five years before the election.
Wyclef was born on the Caribbean island but moved to New York when he was a child.
In total, 15 prospective candidates were rejected, while 19 were approved.
Wyclef says he is disappointed with the council’s ruling, but has urged his supporters to remain peaceful. He also promised he would continue his aid and charity work in the country, which was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year.
"Though I disagree with the ruling, I respectfully accept the committee's final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same," Jean wrote in the Huffington Post newspaper.
"We must all honour the memories of those we've lost - whether in the earthquake, or at anytime - by responding peacefully and responsibly to this disappointment.
"I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti's renewal; though the board has determined that I am not a resident of Haiti, home is where the heart is - and my heart has and will always be in Haiti. Rest assured, this isn't the end of my efforts to help improve my beloved country but only marks a new beginning."
Wyclef’s supporters gathered outside the electoral council building in Port-au-Prince last night chanting: "We want Clef, Clef is Haiti and Haiti is for Clef!"
United Nations Peacekeeping forces have been brought in to the city just in case.
