Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean ended weeks of speculation when he filed official documents confirming his bid for President in his native Haiti.
The Fugees rapper flew to Haiti Thursday with his wife Marie Claudinette and their adopted daughter, Angelina. He headed straight to the electoral council office in the capital Port-Au-Prince to lodge the documents.
Wyclef revealed his race for presidency was driven by “the people of Haiti”, who are still dealing with the aftermath of January’s devastating earthquake – and he’s hoping to tackle issues including education and infrastructure if he’s elected.
Jean acknowledges the rebuilding of the impoverished Caribbean nation will take 25 to 30 years.
He tells the Wall Street Journal, “I always say that Wyclef Jean is not running for the presidency of Haiti, I’m being drafted by the people of Haiti.”
He adds that, if elected, he will tackle education, job creation, and agriculture. He also says the the “reconstruction of Haiti, should not only (involve) international contractors, but there should be local Haitian contractors too.”
Jean gave his first interview as candidate in the Haitian presidential elections on Larry King Live.
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