Wyclef Jean has now formally announced that he'll run for the presidency of Haiti. But for all of the support coming his way, the musician didn't manage to receive the
endorsement of one of his former Fugees groupmembers.
Pras has endorsed rival candidate Michel Martelly, telling MTV News on Friday (August 6) that Martelly is better equipped to revive the ravaged country. Pras stressed his appreciation for Wyclef's efforts to aid Haiti but said he simply thinks his friend would be in over his head.
"Basically, I went down to Haiti yesterday to endorse a friend of mine named Michel Martelly. He's an ex-musician, very, very popular down in Haiti," Pras explained. "He used to go by the name 'Sweet Micky.' "
"Listen, I love Wyclef to death, he continued. "We came up together, we grew up together, we basically called each other cousins. But the reality is this, we need a real leader. Not just a regular leader, but a transformative leader. Someone that's gonna be able to galvanize the Haitians down on the field, the Haitian-Americans, the international community, it's a collective support — to take this country to the 21st century. And I'm just not convinced Wyclef is the one for that."
Pras was particularly effusive in praising Wyclef for bringing global attention to Haiti in the wake of the country's debilitating earthquake this past January. "But that does not mean he can become the next president of Haiti," Pras said.
'Clef formally declared his run for president during an appearance Thursday night on CNN's "Larry King Live." "If I can't take five years out to serve my country as president," Wyclef said in the interview, "then everything I've been singing about, like equal rights, doesn't mean anything."
He pushed his political neutrality as an asset; Haiti has long been dominated by corrupt government regimes. Pras said he became aware in July that Wyclef had Haiti's elections on his mind, though he didn't think his friend would seriously contemplate running himself. Rather, Pras thought Wycelf would endorse his own uncle, who has served in an ambassador post to Haiti, in Washington, D.C., in the past. Pras also revealed he hadn't spoken directly to Wyclef before he made public his endorsement of Martelly.
Representatives for Wyclef had not responded to MTV News' requests for comment at press time.
What do you think of Pras endorsing Wyclef's rival for the Haitian presidency? Let us know in the comments.
This report is from MTV News.
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