🔗 Share this article The Jim Gavin Withdraws from Ireland's Race for the Presidency In a stunning development, one of the main contenders in Ireland's election for president has quit the contest, dramatically altering the election dynamics. Withdrawal Announcement Reconfigures Political Contest The party's presidential hopeful pulled out on Sunday night following disclosures about an financial obligation to a previous occupant, turning the contest into an volatile two-horse race between a center-right former government minister and an autonomous progressive parliamentarian. The 54-year-old Gavin, a political novice who was parachuted into the race after careers in sport, aviation and the military, withdrew after it emerged he had failed to return a rent overpayment of 3,300 euros when he was a property owner about 16 years ago, during a period of economic hardship. "I made a mistake that was inconsistent with my values and the principles I uphold. Corrective actions are underway," he declared. "I have also thought long and hard, about the potential impact of the continuing election battle on the welfare of my family and friends. "After evaluating everything, I've chosen to exit from the race for the presidency with immediate action and rejoin my loved ones." Race Narrowed to Two Main Contenders The biggest shock in a election race in recent history reduced the field to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is representing the incumbent center-right Fine Gael party, and another candidate, an vocal supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by Sinn Féin and small leftwing opposition parties. Crisis for Leadership This departure also caused a problem for the prime minister and party head, the party chief, who had risked his standing by choosing an inexperienced hopeful over the skepticism of associates in the party. Martin said the candidate wished to avoid "bring controversy" to the office of president and was justified in leaving. "Gavin recognized that he was at fault in relation to an issue that has come up lately." Political Difficulties Even with a track record of competence and success in enterprise and sports – under his leadership the capital's GAA team to five straight titles – his election effort faltered through blunders that caused him to fall behind in an public opinion measure even before the unpaid debt disclosure. Party members who had objected to picking the candidate said the situation was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "ramifications" – a barely concealed caution to the leader. Election Rules The candidate's name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will finish the long service of Michael D Higgins, but voters now face a dichotomy between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an autonomous progressive. A poll taken before Gavin's exit gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and Humphreys 23%, with the former candidate at 15 percent. Under electoral rules, people pick candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches 50% on the first count, the hopeful with the fewest primary selections is removed and their votes are transferred to the subsequent choice. Likely Support Redistribution Analysts predicted that if Gavin was eliminated, a majority of his ballots would shift to the other candidate, and the other way around, increasing the likelihood that a pro-government candidate would win the presidential office for the allied parties. Presidential Duties This office is a largely symbolic post but Higgins and his predecessors transformed it into a stage for international matters. Surviving Hopefuls Connolly, 68, from her home city, would bring a strong leftwing voice to that legacy. Connolly has attacked capitalist systems and said the organization constitutes "an integral component" of the Palestinian people. She has charged Nato of militarism and compared Germany's increased defence spending to the pre-war era, when the Nazi leader built up military forces. The 62-year-old Humphreys, has been subjected to review over her time in office in cabinets that oversaw a housing crisis. A Presbyterian from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been questioned about her lack of Irish language skills but commented her Protestant heritage could help win over Northern Ireland's unionists in a united Ireland.