Michel Martelly, Haiti's New Pop Star President, Ain't Always So Sweet

On March 20, after a fraudulent first-round of voting and weeks of riots, Haitians overwhelmingly elected a 50-year-old former pop star as president.Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly strolled into office with two-thirds of the votes, promising radical change. Since retiring from the stage in 2007, Martelly has tried to shed his...

By Michael E. Miller

June 7, 2011

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On March 20, after a fraudulent first-round of voting and weeks of riots, Haitians overwhelmingly elected a 50-year-old former pop star as president.

Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly strolled into office with two-thirds of the votes, promising radical change. Since retiring from the stage in 2007, Martelly has tried to shed his self-proclaimed title as the "bad boy" of Haitian compas music to lead his earthquake-ravaged country out of systemic poverty.

But Martelly's reformation isn't as complete as he'd like Haitians -- and international aid donors -- to think.

Check out this week's Metro for more on Martelly. If his musical career is anything to judge him by, his tenure in office may not end up so sweet after all.

"I Don't Care" (excerpt)

If I catch them on Bicentenaire

We're going to spank them

Ruthless, Micky is ruthless

When they attack me, Micky gets ruthless

That's how we are

If you don't like it, get out!

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Michael E. Miller was a staff writer at Miami New Times for five years. His work for New Times won many national awards, including back-to-back-to-back Sigma Delta Chi medallions. He now covers local enterprise for the Washington Post.

Contact: Michael E. Miller