Haitian officials: Wyclef Jean will not be on presidential ballot

Haitian election officials have rejected hip-hop singer Wyclef Jean’s bid to run for president of the Caribbean nation.

Jean’s name was not on the list of 19 approved candidates released by Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council on Friday night.

“I respectfully accept the committee’s final decision, and I urge my supporters to do the same,” Jean said in a statement.

In an interview with CNN shortly after the approved candidates’ list was announced, Jean said he was surprised by the news.

“This has come to our party and to our group as a total shock,” he said.  Jean was among 15 prospective candidates rejected. Elections officials did not provide a reason to reporters, but Jean’s statement said they had ruled he was not a resident of the country.

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