|
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The filing deadline for Haiti's presidential elections isn't until Aug. 7, but many of the potential contenders are playing coy about their plans and speculation about who will run is rampant.
The political jockeying for one of the toughest jobs in the hemisphere began well before the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake. But it has intensified as rumors fly over a possible bid by Haiti-born multi-platinum musician Wyclef Jean, secret polling by foreign powers in search of a new face to lead Haiti's reconstruction and candidacy declarations by some Haitian diplomats and government officials.
"Wyclef's commitment to his homeland and its youth is boundless and he will remain its greatest supporter regardless of whether he is part of the government moving forward," his family said in a statement.
Jean, who lives in New York, is founder of the humanitarian Yele Haiti Foundation and has played a prominent role in securing aid after the January 12 earthquake leveled much of the capital city Port-au-Prince.
Current President Rene Preval is barred by the constitution from seeking a new term in the elections scheduled for November 28.
|
