Wyclef Jean cannot run for president of Haiti; doesn't meet residency requirement

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Wyclef Jean cannot run for president of Haiti; doesn't meet residency requirement, council rules

NY DAILY NEWS STAFF

 

Saturday, August 21st 2010

 

Port-Au-Prince, Haiti - Wyclef Jean didn't make the cut.

 

The Haitian-born hip-hop star cannot run for president in the country's Nov. 28 election, an electoral council ruled Friday night.

 

Singer-songwriter Jean, 40, an international celebrity who brought star power to the election in the impoverished and earthquake-ravaged Caribbean nation, was left off the list of approved candidates.

 

Jean said the council told him he did not meet the residency requirement of having lived in the country for five years before the election.

 

The former Fugees frontman - who was born in Haiti, but left the country when he was 9 and grew up in New York and New Jersey - said he disagreed with the decision, but accepted it and urged his supporters to do the same.

 

"We must all honor the memories of those we've lost - whether in the earthquake, or at any time - by responding peacefully and responsibly to this disappointment," Jean said.

 

Jean, who had been appointed by President Rene Preval as Haiti's ambassador at large, said he would continue to fight for his country's interests.

 

"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," he said in a statement.

 

A spokesman said the council had rejected 15 people and accepted 19 candidates who filed to succeed Preval, who cannot run for a third term.

 

With News Wire Services

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/08/21/2010-08-21_wyclef_says_hes_still_in_haiti_race.html#ixzz0xJs05rNy

[St Louis Car 09]

I knew he would have the chance.Hes just trying to be an opportunist and fight his way out of paying the IRS the $2 milion he owes in back taxes.

[Nova RTS 9147]

I knew he would have the chance.Hes just trying to be an opportunist and fight his way out of paying the IRS the $2 milion he owes in back taxes.

 

I don't know if that's true, but if it is then he would be an idiot to try and run for President of Haiti. The U.S. has overthrown the heads of state for less serious reasons, and a $2 million tax bill is more than enough reason for Wyclef to be flown to South Africa against his will.

[B35 via Church]

I want to assure my countrymen that I will continue to work for Haiti's renewal

 

I don't know about November, but Wyclef is certainly gone if he thinks that'll ever fully come true....

 

there's a better chance of a black woman being president of the united states before that happens.

[Guest lance25]

Wait a minute, he was running????

[B35 via Church]

Wait a minute, he was running????

 

for the president of Haiti, yeh...

 

lol @ how you replied....

[Messino]

Hes not going to give up too easy and he has lots of money to push the issue. ALready hes saying he can fight it because the previous president made him and official ambassador to Haiti thus baking his fight about the residency status.