Wyclef Jean's failed presidential bid: The fallout

Haitian officials say the hip-hop star is ineligible to run for president. Is this a victory or a defeat for democracy?

Wyclef Jean
(Image credit: Getty)

Haiti's election board has ruled that hip-hop star Wyclef Jean is ineligible to run for president in his earthquake-ravaged homeland, a decision some worried could spark protests from his mostly young supporters. Jean had said late Friday that, with a "heavy heart," he would respect the the board's ruling, and he urged his supporters to do the same. But on Sunday he said via Twitter that he would appeal — although election commission's spokesman said decisions on eligibility are final. Will the dispute over Jean's candidacy disrupt the campaign? (Watch an AP report about the ruling)

No, this is actually a good sign: "Score one for the rule of law in Haiti," say the editors of The Economist. Haitian election rules state plainly that all presidential candidates must have lived in the country for the last five years, and Wyclef Jean has lived in the U.S. so long he speaks his native Creole with a heavy accent. Disqualifying him is a meaningful step toward addressing Haiti's history of "messy elections."

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