Musician and aspiring politician Wyclef Jean cannot appeal his disqualification from a Haitian presidential run, according to an electoral council lawyer. Musician and aspiring politician Wyclef Jean cannot appeal his disqualification from a Haitian presidential run, according to an electoral council lawyer. (Richard Drew/Associated Press)

Wyclef Jean's disqualification from Haiti's presidential campaign cannot be appealed, a lawyer for the electoral council said.

Though the former Fugees rapper and music producer initially accepted Friday's provisional electoral council decision to bar him from running for president, he has since demanded an appeal and blasted the group as corrupt and politically motivated.

In an interview with Reuters on Tuesday, electoral council lawyer Samuel Pierre said the group's rulings are definitive and cannot be appealed, under an article of Haiti's electoral law.

"Therefore, there is absolutely no possibility for Wyclef Jean to be added to the list of candidates approved to run in the next presidential elections," Pierre said.

"So it's over."

Pierre added that "when it comes to electoral matters, the electoral council is the 'Supreme Court,' meaning there is nowhere else to go [with an appeal]."

Jean was among 15 candidates deemed ineligible to run for the presidency this fall, which will elect a successor to two-term Haiti President René Préval.

Residency at issue

At issue for the Haiti-born, U.S.-raised musician was one of the requirements that candidates reside in Haiti for five consecutive years prior to running. Jean, 40, has insisted that his role as a Haitian ambassador-at-large and his frequent visits back to his homeland qualify him.

In media interviews since the weekend, Jean has accused the group of approving other candidates who had also failed to meet the residency requirement and alleged that his disqualification was due to influence from political rivals.

Jean is a popular figure in Haiti and has helped garner international support and charity funds for his homeland, especially since the devastating earthquake in January. However, he has also faced tough questions about his political qualifications and the financial management of his former charity.

Despite a few small protests in support of Jean, Haiti's capital city of Port-au-Prince has largely remained calm since the electoral council's decision.

Former Haitian prime ministers, government ministers and the wife of a former prime minister are among the 19 candidates approved to run in the fall election, slated for Nov. 28.