By Alex HudsonWyclef Jean has long been vocal in his support of his homeland of Haiti, forming the Yéle Haiti Foundation and acting as a goodwill ambassador for the nation. Now, the former Fugees vocalist is looking to take his support to the ultimate level: becoming the president of Haiti.
As the CBC reports, Jean announced the news earlier this morning (August 5) in a Hatian-language statement on a Miami radio station. He reportedly boarded a plane bound for Haiti immediately afterwards.
This confirms the rumours that began circling last week that he was considering running for office.
As for why Jean has decided to run for president, he said, "For the 250,000 people who died in the earthquake, that's the reason we ought to see a change in the system."
This means that Jean will be stepping down as the chairman of Yéle Haiti - probably a good thing given the recent accusations of financial misconduct. To make matters worse, just yesterday (August 4), The Smoking Gun reported that Jean owes the IRS $2.1 million.
Now that he's officially announced his candidacy, Jean's first matter of business is proving that he is eligible for Haitian president. He may encounter trouble with the requirement that he has lived in Haiti for five consecutive years and owns land there. Jean has lived in the U.S. since the age of nine.
He is expected to make an Engligh-language statement on Larry King Live later today.
BONNAROO: Kendrick Lamar What Stage, Manchester TN, June 16
SHARE IT! 
