Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin Exits from Ireland's Election Campaign
In a surprising turn of events, one of the leading candidates in Ireland's election for president has quit the race, dramatically altering the election dynamics.
Sudden Exit Transforms Election Dynamics
Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin pulled out on the evening of Sunday following reports about an financial obligation to a previous occupant, transforming the race into an uncertain two-horse race between a centre-right ex-minister and an independent leftwing legislator.
The 54-year-old Gavin, a inexperienced candidate who joined the race after careers in sports, airline industry and defense, withdrew after it was revealed he had not repaid a excess rental payment of 3,300 euros when he was a property owner about a decade and a half ago, during a period of financial difficulty.
"I committed an error that was not in keeping with who I am and the expectations I hold. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he stated. "I have also thought long and hard, about the potential impact of the continuing election battle on the health of my loved ones and companions.
"After evaluating everything, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and rejoin my loved ones."
Contest Reduced to Primary Hopefuls
The biggest shock in a election race in modern times limited the options to Heather Humphreys, a ex-minister who is representing the incumbent center-right party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an vocal supporter of Palestinian rights who is endorsed by Sinn Féin and minor progressive groups.
Crisis for Leadership
The withdrawal also created turmoil for the taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, who had staked his authority by selecting an untried candidate over the skepticism of party colleagues.
Martin said the candidate wished to avoid "bring controversy" to the office of president and was correct to step down. "Gavin recognized that he made an error in relation to an matter that has emerged recently."
Campaign Struggles
Even with a track record of capability and achievements in business and sport – Gavin had steered Dublin's Gaelic football team to five straight titles – his campaign had stumbled through missteps that put him at a disadvantage in an survey even prior to the financial revelation.
Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had objected to picking Gavin said the episode was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "consequences" – a implied threat to the leader.
Voting System
His name may still appear for selection in the election on 24 October, which will finish the long service of Michael D Higgins, but voters now face a two options between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. Opinion research conducted ahead of Gavin's exit gave Connolly a third of the vote and Humphreys 23%, with Gavin on 15%.
According to voting regulations, people pick candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches half the votes initially, the candidate with the least initial choices is removed and their votes are transferred to the next preference.
Possible Ballot Shifts
Analysts predicted that if Gavin was eliminated, most of his votes would shift to the other candidate, and the other way around, enhancing the possibility that a mainstream contender would attain the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.
Function of the President
The role of president is a primarily ceremonial position but the current and former presidents transformed it into a venue for worldwide concerns.
Final Contenders
Connolly, 68, from her home city, would introduce a robust progressive perspective to that tradition. She has criticized free-market policies and said the group represents "part of the fabric" of the people of Palestine. She has charged NATO of promoting military solutions and equated the country's raised military budget to the 1930s, when Adolf Hitler rearmed the country.
The 62-year-old Humphreys, has been subjected to review over her performance in government in governments that presided over a housing crisis. As a Protestant from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been questioned about her failure to speak Gaelic but commented her religious background could help win over Northern Ireland's unionists in a united Ireland.