Hope in Haiti - a new President

I know nothing of the politics in Haiti but I do know that they have an entrenched 'ruling elite' and it just got tossed out of office. From the New York Times:

Singer Elected Haiti�s President
One of Haiti�s most popular entertainers, a provocative Carnival singer previously best known for disrobing and swearing on stage, was elected president in a landslide, according to results announced Monday, placing him at the helm of a nation still struggling to recover from last year�s earthquake, a cholera epidemic and chronic poverty.

The singer, Michel Martelly, 50, known as Sweet Micky or Tet Kale (bald head), won 68 percent of the vote in a runoff election two weeks ago that he nearly did not qualify for.

He defeated Mirlande Manigat, 70, a college professor and former first lady, who won 32 percent of the vote. She had cast herself as a mother figure to soothe Haiti�s ills, in contrast to Mr. Martelly�s image as a rebellious son bent on shaking up the establishment.

When the results were announced at the election commission offices on Monday evening, firecrackers went off outside, hundreds of people ran chanting Mr. Martelly�s name through the streets and people danced in an earthquake tent camp across the street.

Election officials did not immediately disclose the election turnout.

He has his work cut out for him but as a political outsider, he may well pull it off. Haiti is dependent on foreign aid and is the poorest nation in this hemisphere. They have agriculture and industry (sugar cane refining and textiles). They could have a lot more with a stable government, decent infrastructure and better education for its people.