A pop singer has swept to a landslide victory in the presidential election in Haiti, according to preliminary results.
The Provisional Electoral Council said political outsider Michel Martelly had achieved 68% of the vote in the Caribbean state.
His closest rival, former first lady Mirlande Manigat, only gained 32%.
Following the announcement, Mr Martelly’s supporters filled the streets of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince to celebrate his victory, setting off fireworks and singing.
He thanked his voters on Twitter saying: “We’ll work for all Haitians. Together we can do it.”
Mr Martelly, also known as ‘Sweet Micky’ Martelly due to his provocative stage performances of Haiti’s compas carnival music, promised an end to decades of political corruption during his election campaign.
Though a household name, the performer has never previously held public office.
As president, Mr Martelly will face the huge challenge of trying to rebuild the Caribbean country after the 2010 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people.
Hundreds of thousands of homeless Haitians are still living in makeshift camps.
Robert Fatton Jr, a Haiti expert and professor in the University of Virginia’s department of politics, said: “Martelly captured the mood of the voters by cleverly using his ‘bad boy’ image to enhance his status as the ultimate ‘outsider’ who symbolised change”.
The presidential results are only preliminary as they can still be subjected to legal challenges which must be dealt with by the electoral council before it can declare them definitive later in the month.
The US Embassy described the announcement of the preliminary results as “another important milestone as the people of Haiti move forward to rebuild their country”.
Mr Martelly was placed third after the March run-off with Ms Manigat but the results were disputed and then revised by the Haitian authorities after alleged vote-rigging.
He won the endorsement of rapper Wyclef Jean after the US-based singer’s own bid for the presidency was turned down because he did not meet Haiti’s residency requirements.
Kongrats…Our next president in Dominica is Benji H20!…
Haitian not easy that man confuse you all just don’t what haiti doing to it self Isweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Mickey you done know good luck Haitian I wish misses Mickey all the best behind all strong man should be a strong woman haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa bram bram.
Congrats, I hope you are able to erase the culture of curruption which has destroy the country. Dominica must learn from the experience of haiti, never to allow curruption to destroy u
Congrats are in order. I thinks this is a positive change for Haiti, fresh new perspective and the risk of corruption, though ever present is less as the guy is already used to fame and he has he own stash of cash. I have high hopes that he will live up to expectations.
CONGRATS////////////// MICKY
I’ve been suffered for you for how long my Boy
and im taking this opportunity to tell you that work hard to make our peoples proud of you as a new president .
And do not let people criticise you next ok cause you worked for it and you deserved it
THANK YOU
Jamellienne ????????????/
kai parsa ! map bwela! messee papa hyti tarpay owr pwezedar sweet micky martelley. messee micky good for haiti they deserve it may God continue to guide this nation and Dominica too. Jah bless!!
Sweet Mikey not the compa artist that like to curse so much. Haitians not easy
This is the man for Haiti check his history and look at the village that he has cared for with his own money, now he will do it for the entire country, Haiti is back on track.
Tet Calle` for haiti eben me bab !! saw fe con sa woYY Saw fe con sa !!!!!
It’s desperation when “Sweet Mikey” locally known unashamedly as “Tete Kal” becomes leader of a country. We have no shame and proud of that.
I pray that the Mickey I saw on stage dressed in woman’s underwear is not the same Mickey that is going to move Haiti forward. I would hope his appearance on stage was only an act.
“GOOD LUCK”……………… Really!!
next PM is Sour Sour! yaw yaw……
How u feeling… :-)
Well look is now sweet Dominica would have to make more bomb than Russia. No name, no warrant.
Irie all dat good we will be ontop of something again lol!
so if legal challenges hinder his smooth entry into presidency then i can imagine the blood shed that will happen,,,
Yes….He should come Dominica and give us a show…..as “Mr. President” so we can cay “ou la la”. Congratulations are in order..waiting for the 16th to make it official..