Last month, after the Election Board of Haiti ruled that Wyclef Jean is ineligible to run for the office of president, Wyclef vowed to fight on in his bid for the office. Just a few weeks ago he was mug-slinging his detractors in his song If I Was President hellbent on getting his way. Well, [...]
Last month, after the Election Board of Haiti ruled that Wyclef Jean is ineligible to run for the office of president, Wyclef vowed to fight on in his bid for the office. Just a few weeks ago he was mug-slinging his detractors in his song If I Was President hellbent on getting his way. Well, today we learn that FINALLY Wyclef Jean has decided to give up the fight and end his Haitian presidential campaign:
Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean says he no longer plans to run in Haiti’s November presidential election. The star’s decision comes a month after his candidacy was formally rejected by Haitian authorities. “After weeks of quiet but painstaking reflection with my wife and daughter, I have chosen to end my bid for the presidency of Haiti,” he said. The singer instead plans to release an album, called If I Were President: The Haitian Experience, next year. “Though my run for the presidency was cut short, I feel it was not in vain,” he said. Jean added that his was “not an easy conclusion to reach” and that it was “thoughtfully made”. The Haitian-born star was told by the electoral council that he could not run for president because he had failed strict residency requirements. The constitution requires candidates to have lived in the country for five years prior to an election. Jean now lives in the US. The singer and producer originally said he would appeal the decision, but officials said the electoral body’s ruling was definitive under Haitian law. “Some battles are best fought off the field, and that is where we take this now,” Jean said. “Our ultimate goal, in continuing the appeal, was to further the people’s opportunity to freely participate in a free and fair democratic process. In that regard, the appeal was meant to improve the electoral process for all, candidates and voters alike. It is one way that I hope to bring light to the functioning of a government that is often ranked as one of the most corrupt on the planet, resulting in a country that is by most measures the poorest in the Western world. It’s not about my candidacy, this appeal was meant to address the shortcomings of the process for every Haitian.” The presidential election was originally scheduled for earlier this year, but was delayed due to the devastating earthquake that struck the country in January.
Again, while I honestly feel that Wyclef‘s heart was originally in the right place I never for one second believed he was qualified to be the president of Haiti … or any other country, for that matter. I am just so glad that he is taking his fight elsewhere. For him to continue to make a mockery of the political system for his selfish ends was only hurting everyone else. This is great news … he should just focus on making a difference in his country outside of the political realm. Or, if he is serious about running for office, he needs to do it the right way … working from the bottom up. I’m afraid his moronic behavior has soured him in my eyes but I’m sure his fans will continue to support him in whatever musical endeavor comes next.
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Nikki Reed
Elisha Cuthbert
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