Wyclef Jean is rumored to be running for president of Haiti.
The Haiti Constitution gives six clear requirements for becoming president, however, and Wyclef may not meet them all.
By Stephen Kurczy, Staff writer -Christian Science Monitor/ July 27, 2010
Wyclef Jean has casually hinted that he may run for president of Haiti before, but he heightened speculation on the matter on Tuesday when he said he is mulling whether to formally announce his candidacy for the Nov. 28 vote.
“At this time, Wyclef Jean has not announced his intent to run for Haitian president,” the Jean Family said in a statement today. “If and when a decision is made, media will be alerted immediately.”
But beyond “will he?” is the question of “can he?”
Dr. Wyclef (in May he received an honorary doctorate from Western Connecticut State University) has already qualified to be a diplomat for the Haitian government. The Grammy Award-winning musician, whose full name is Nel Ust Wycliffe Jean, was appointed ambassador-at-large in 2007.
But the Haitian Constitution gives six specific requirements for president, and it remains unclear if Wyclef meets them all.
Constitutional requirements
Article 135 of the Constitution states that the president must be at least 35 years old; a native-born Haitian and have never renounced Haitian nationality; the owner in Haiti of at least one real property and have his habitual residence in the country; have been relieved of this responsibilities if he has been handling public funds; have resided in the country for five consecutive years before the election; and have never been sentenced to death, personal restraint, or penal servitude or lost of civil rights for a crime.
Wyclef appears to meet at least five of the six requirements, according to the Haitian Ambassador to the United States, who also happens to be Wyclef’s uncle.
Wyclef meets most requirements
Born on Oct. 17, 1972, Wyclef will be 38 on election day this November.
Although he moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Brooklyn and Newark, Wyclef has always retained his Haitian citizenship, says Ambassador Raymond Joseph.
“He is not a US citizen and has never been,” Ambassador Joseph told the Monitor in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Fulfilling a third category, Wyclef owns a home and businesses in Haiti, according to Ambassador Joseph. Wyclef purchased the Haitian television station Telemax in early 2006.
Wyclef does not hold public office and therefore does not handle public funds. His charity, Yele, is a registered nonprofit charitable organization with tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.
A Monitor search of public archives does not show Wyclef having ever been sentenced to death, personal restraint, or penal servitude or lost civil rights for a crime. In 2002, during a protest with fellow musicians P Diddy and Alicia Keys against proposed budget cuts at New York City public schools, he was arrested and briefly jailed for disorderly conduct. But this would not block a presidential run.
“I didn’t go to prison for no drugs, no guns, or whatever. I went to prison because I believe they shouldn’t cut the budget… when it comes for protesting for the right cause, that’s what I’m all about. I’m a revolutionary,” he told BBC News shortly afterward.
Potential roadblock: residence
However, one category may throw a wrench in any potential run for Haiti’s highest office.
Wyclef spends much time in the United States, and it is unclear if his stints living in Haiti will qualify him for having resided in the country for five consecutive years before the election.
The Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) will rule on this if Wyclef decides to run for president, says Ambassador Joseph, who has consulted his nephew on his political plans.
“We talked about this – we talk all the time,” says Joseph, declining to divulge more.
He notes that one attribute of a president that is not constitutionally required, but is Wyclef’s greatest asset, is his popularity. “He is sort of a spokesperson for a large segment of Haiti’s youth,” he says.
Is there any Haitian more popular?
“I don’t think so,” the ambassador says.
Original article here
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0727/Is-Wyclef-Jean-eligible-to-run-for-president-of-Haiti
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COMMENT: HAITIAN-TRUTH.ORG
Wyclef has some popularity in Haiti, so long as he is handing things out.
He doesn’t have any real projects of his own, so whenever VIPs are sent to Haiti, by Wyclef, he has them delivered to Pere Cico’s Afe Neg Combite, in Kenscoff, for a real show.
Many Haitians are upset about the money they believe Wyclef collected, on behalf of the quake victims…and this money has never arrived in Haiti.
The fact that he was 8 years behind on his charity tax filings causes some doubt.
He is popular in some areas, and unpopular in others. He is not the most popular man/woman in Haiti by any stretch of the imagination.
He should stick to what he does best.
Acting as Haiti’s ambassador at large. To attempt the presidency will destroy his image forever.
And he does not – no matter what anyone says – meet the 5 year residence requirement.
Love you Wyclef, but after this Spring, I would not trust you with a gas station.
Keep making music- you have a power there. Don’t waste it on this. Haiti cannot afford to take the risk.
do we have a country or something else I could not believe Wyclef want to be president. What I am going to tell my friend about eduction, if there is no standard we must have one
I do not think he is qualify to be a leader in a poor country like Haiti, I think his uncle is not telling the true who happen to be U.S. ambassador. I did so search about Wyclef has earned his doctor degree in connecticut university turns out false Wyclef has no educational background at all. So uncle joseph get your fact straight and stop lying to the world, I am going to have U.S. dept of education to looked in to it.
I do not think he is qualify to be a leader in a poor country like Haiti, I think his uncle is not telling the true who happen to be U.S. ambassador. I did some search about Wyclef has earned his doctor degree in connecticut university turns out false Wyclef has no educational background at all. So uncle Joseph get your fact straight and stop lying to the world, I am going to have U.S. dept. of education to looked in to it.
It’s been 200yrs ago since we’ve been having all smart people running haiti.we never going forward
I making a like Wyclef but he is going to spoil that by making a grab at the presidentcy. He should help the nation by remaining a goodwill ambassador at large. Instead he makes a laughing stock of himself and has some bad people around him.
The guys with him last time looked like a bunch of bums from New York City with their dreadlocks, messy clothing and woolen caps. They definately did not look Haitian.
Wyclef looked fine but his friends were something else.
When he fails at the el3ctions he will ruin his charity.
this for Mompoint> Stop talking shit, you don’t even know how to use a computer (ale we) to make research . Wycleffe had recieved a doctorat Degr. As a Philanthropist the 23rd of may at the WESTERN University in connecticut.Wycleff is a Humanist,Thank you talk that.
At this moment now tell me what do you need from a president in Haiti,and tell me who do you see among all those canditate who can acomplish them?
first of all wiclef did not receive any doctorat Degree. wiclef went to college for one semester so he can learn music.wiclef know nothing about the haitian history beside what he heard from everybody else mouth. so Yes magalye mompoint you is 100% right wyclef jean don’t have a college degree and in order for you to be a president you have to study law and learn your history. if you have a problem with email me boyzwood@ymail.com and yes I am Haitian i know more then some of you maniac that’s talking out of y’all behind do your research.
First off- get down off your high horse. You are NOT correct. Wyclef was given an honorary degree from a University in Conneticut.
He never attended the University, but earlier this year, he was awarded a Doctorate Degree, but he would likely have a hard time passing even the simplest exam to prove his knowledge base in the subject of his “Degree”
Your arrogance is not welcome boyzwood@ymail.com – Grow up a bit.
Wyclef Jean is not qualified to run for the Haitian Presidency.
A constitutional requirement demands a candidate’s residence in Haiti for 5 consecutive years, immediately before filing electoral documentation.
Wyclef is 40 years of age and has been an American resident since he was 9 years old.
Other than two or three day visits, Wyclef has been absent from Haiti.
He was made An Ambassador at Large 3 years ago, but this has absolutely nothing to do with the residence requirement.
WYCLEF SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HIS HAITIAN RESIDENCY CLAIMS. IF HE WAS OUT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR 5 CONSECUTIVE YEARS…HIS GREEN CARD STATUS IS TOAST. HE WOULD LOSE IT – IMMEDIATELY!!!
Wyclef is an egocentric, spoiled loser who values his personal gratification above the well-being of the 9,000,000 Haitians he claims to love. His media circus has taken the spotlight of Haiti’s misery, flooded tent camps, disease, starvation and a lack of hope.
Wyclef has lost whatever support he had in Haiti.
He has ruined his value to Haiti, as a goodwill ambassador.
Wyclef is a pariah in Haiti.
He has become a laughingstock in the United States, and much of the world.
Collins,
A former Wyclef fan