DenzBenz
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He took center stage leading the Haiti earthquake relief, and now Wyclef Jean has confirmed he's running for president of his native country. Jean told Time.com he plans to announce his candidacy Thursday on "Larry King Live", just days shy of Saturday's deadline.
Reported by NYDailyNews.com on 4 August 2010
"If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this," the Haitian-born superstar said Tuesday night. "The quake drove home to me that Haiti can't wait another 10 years for us to bring it into the 21st century." Jean, 37, collected donations for earthquake relief through his charity, Yele Haiti.
"If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president, then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything," said Jean, who was raised in Brooklyn. "My decision is a draft," Jean said in a video posted on Time.com. "I've been drafted by the youth."
The former Fugees singer's Yele Foundation has worked to raise funds to help the island nation recover from the devastating earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds of people in January. Jean's family released a statement last week saying "Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless."
In order to run for President of Haiti, Jean will need to prove he has resided in the country for at least five consecutive years, according to The Star-Ledger. He would also need to show he is not a citizen of another country (he is actually not a U.S. citizen, but is considered a "resident.")
Jean is expected to announce his decision on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Thursday. The election is Nov. 28.
Reported by NYDailyNews.com on 4 August 2010
"If not for the earthquake, I probably would have waited another 10 years before doing this," the Haitian-born superstar said Tuesday night. "The quake drove home to me that Haiti can't wait another 10 years for us to bring it into the 21st century." Jean, 37, collected donations for earthquake relief through his charity, Yele Haiti.
"If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president, then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything," said Jean, who was raised in Brooklyn. "My decision is a draft," Jean said in a video posted on Time.com. "I've been drafted by the youth."
The former Fugees singer's Yele Foundation has worked to raise funds to help the island nation recover from the devastating earthquake that destroyed thousands of homes and killed hundreds of people in January. Jean's family released a statement last week saying "Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless."
In order to run for President of Haiti, Jean will need to prove he has resided in the country for at least five consecutive years, according to The Star-Ledger. He would also need to show he is not a citizen of another country (he is actually not a U.S. citizen, but is considered a "resident.")
Jean is expected to announce his decision on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Thursday. The election is Nov. 28.
