Wyclef has drawn suspicion from Hollywood A-lister Sean Penn following his announcement that he is to run for president of Haiti. In addition, former Fugees partner Pras Michel is apparently opposing Wyclef's move by publicly endorsing his opponent.

Wyclef has drawn suspicion from Hollywood A-lister Sean Penn following his announcement that he is to run for president of Haiti. In addition, former Fugees partner Pras Michel is apparently opposing Wyclef's move by publicly endorsing his opponent.

In the days leading up to the announcement, speculation had been rife as to whether Wyclef would actually pursue the role, with a number of seemingly contradictory comments being given to the press. Penn was interviewed by CNN following the announcement that Wyclef was, after all, running for the job. He stated that he was suspicious of Wyclef's motives.
"What the Haitian people need now is a leader who's genuinely willing to sacrifice," said Penn. "One reason I don't know very much about Wyclef Jean because I haven't seen or heard of him in these last six months that I've been in Haiti. I think he's an important voice. I hope he doesn't sacrifice that voice by taking the eye off the very devastating realities on the ground and the very difficult strategic future its got in putting itself back together."

Penn said he felt there were possible corporate interests behind Wyclef’s move and also said that alleged financial inconsistencies with the rap artist’s Yele Haiti deserved more investigation.

Pras, meanwhile, has revealed that he is opposing Wyclef's presidency, instead siding with opponent Michel Martelly. A Twitter feed from Pras read:
“All Haitians around the world it's going to take all of us to start this reconstruction for Haiti !!! Michel Martelly for president 2010!!!. It's official the people are asking for it I'm here in the belly of Haiti I endorse Michel Martelly as the next president of Haiti!!!!!”
While Pras has yet to publicly speak out on why he is not supporting to Wyclef, he did appear to back Penn's views by commenting: “Sean Penn understands what's really going and understand what Haiti really needs"

Roland Martin, the political talking head, fired back at Penn in defence of Wyclef, but also revealed that he was not endorsing the former Fugees frontman.
“Who the hell is Sean Penn on CNN to question Wyclef running for president of Haiti? He accused corporate American interests backing him,” Martin said via Twitter. “It is wrong for Penn to assert that corporate interests are behind Wyclef's campaign because he heard it from someone.”

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