Wyclef Jean Eyes Run for Haiti President

Wyclef Jean for president? That's the buzz concerning the hip hop star who is rumored to be preparing to announce his candidacy for president of Haiti.

Jean is preparing to release the news, according to a report in an Ottawa-Gatineau newspaper. It also referred to "a source close to the government" in Port-au-Prince who reportedly told the publication Le Droit that Jean is waiting for paperwork to be finalized by next week's filing deadline.

Jean, 37, was born in Haiti but moved to Brooklyn as a child. He has encouraged young Haitians to vote and collected funds for Haiti through a foundation, Yéle Haiti.

Haiti's law does not allow René Préval, the current president, to seek a third term. Préval named the former Fugees star as ambassador-at-large in 2007 and Jean remains hugely popular with Haitians.

The French-language Le Droit, translated through Yahoo! Babelfish , state's Jean's family has indicated he is thinking of running, but has not yet made a decision.

MTV News UK quoted a family statement, "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 …"

A Wyclef Jean spokeswoman isn't telling the Canadian Press whether he has plans to run, according to a story carried in Metro Canada . She would not confirm the Le Droit report that quoted the government source as saying the government is "sure" Jean will be a candidate.

The Winnepeg Free Press added that FOX Business asked Jean Friday if he would run in the Nov. 28 presidential election to which he responded, "I would say right now, currently at this minute, no."

Le Droit reported that the road to the presidency would not necessarily be easy for Jean. Tens of candidates are expected to register by the Aug. 7 deadline.