At the start of this month, singer/songwriter Wyclef Jean formally announced his candidacy for the presidency of Haiti and then a week later launched a viral campaign in support of his bid for office. Today we learn that Wyclef‘s campaign is already dunzo because as a result of his ineligibility to be the president of Haiti he will NOT be allowed to run for the office:

Haitian American hip-hop star Wyclef Jean is not on the list of approved candidates who satisfy legal requirements to run in Haiti’s Nov. 28 presidential election, an electoral official said Thursday. The presidential bid by the 39-year-old singer-songwriter and international celebrity had triggered widespread enthusiasm in his poor, earthquake-ravaged Caribbean homeland. But it had been challenged on the grounds that Jean, whose primary residence is in New Jersey, did not fully meet the requirements, including a key one on Haitian residency. “He is not on the list as I speak,” said the member of the country’s provisional electoral council, who asked not to be identified. He said the electoral disputes bureau entrusted with settling challenges to candidacies had ruled that Jean did not meet several legal requirements, but he gave no details … There was no immediate comment from Jean, who earlier Thursday met President Rene Preval in Port-au- Prince, the nation’s capital. The provisional electoral council was expected Friday to formally publish the list of approved candidates to succeed Preval, who cannot seek reelection, having served two terms in office.

You know, at the end of the day, I think this is for the best. While I totally believe that Wyclef‘s heart is in the right place, I absolutely do NOT believe he is even remotely qualified to be president of an entire country. I commend him for bringing awareness to the presidential election in Haiti and here’s hoping that Wyclef will continue to work towards the betterment of his country. Perhaps he will help get another more qualified candidate elected into office. While I’m sure Wyclef is bummed he won’t be able to run, I honestly believe it’s in Haiti’s best interest that only the qualified people be allowed to run for the office of president.

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