PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Singer Wyclef Jean has filed the paperwork to run for president of his native Haiti.The hip hop star was greeted by dozens of supporters as he arrived Thursday with his wife and daughter at an electoral council office in Port-au-Prince. The deadline to file candidacy papers is Saturday. He had been fielding rumors of his candidacy for years.

The 40-year-old Jean said by running for president

“my focus on helping Haiti turn a new corner will only grow stronger.”

The winner of the Nov. 28 election will preside over the spending of billions in international aid for reconstruction from the Jan. 12 earthquake.

The Haitian-born, Brooklyn-raised singer released a statement that he was resigning the chairmanship of the foundation he helped establish, Yele Haiti, effective immediately Thursday.

Yele came under criticism for alleged improprieties including that it paid Jean to perform at fundraising events and bought air time from a television station he co-owns.