The Jim Gavin Withdraws from Ireland's Presidential Race
With an unexpected announcement, a key leading candidates in Ireland's race for president has quit the race, upending the election dynamics.
Sudden Exit Transforms Campaign Landscape
Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin withdrew on the evening of Sunday following disclosures about an unpaid debt to a previous occupant, converting the contest into an unpredictable direct competition between a center-right former government minister and an autonomous progressive legislator.
The 54-year-old Gavin, a political novice who joined the race after work in sports, airline industry and defense, withdrew after it emerged he had neglected to refund a rent overpayment of 3,300 euros when he was a landlord about 16 years ago, during a period of monetary strain.
"It was my fault that was not in keeping with who I am and the principles I uphold. Corrective actions are underway," he declared. "After careful consideration, regarding the possible effects of the continuing election battle on the welfare of my relatives and acquaintances.
"After evaluating everything, I've chosen to exit from the race for the presidency with right away and go back to my family."
Race Narrowed to Two Main Contenders
A major surprise in a election race in modern times reduced the field to Heather Humphreys, a past government official who is representing the governing moderate right Fine Gael party, and another candidate, an vocal advocate for Palestine who is endorsed by Sinn FĂ©in and small leftwing opposition parties.
Problem for Leader
The withdrawal also created turmoil for the leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, who had staked his authority by selecting an unproven contender over the reservations of party colleagues.
Martin said Gavin did not want to "create turmoil" to the presidency and was correct to step down. "Jim has accepted that he committed a mistake in relation to an situation that has come up lately."
Political Difficulties
Although known for competence and success in commerce and athletics – under his leadership the Dublin football squad to multiple successive wins – his political bid struggled through blunders that put him at a disadvantage in an public opinion measure even ahead of the debt news.
Fianna Fáil figures who had opposed selecting Gavin said the situation was a "significant mistake" that would have "consequences" – a thinly veiled warning to Martin.
Voting System
The candidate's name may stay on the voting paper in the poll taking place in late October, which will end the 14-year tenure of President Higgins, but the electorate now confronts a binary choice between a centrist establishment candidate and an autonomous progressive. A poll taken before the withdrawal gave Connolly a third of the vote and 23 percent for Humphreys, with Gavin on 15%.
According to voting regulations, voters select contenders based on preference. If no candidate exceeds half the votes initially, the hopeful with the fewest initial choices is removed and their ballots are redistributed to the following option.
Likely Support Redistribution
It was expected that in the event of his exclusion, most of his votes would transfer to Humphreys, and the other way around, increasing the likelihood that a establishment hopeful would attain the presidency for the governing partnership.
Function of the President
The role of president is a primarily ceremonial position but Higgins and his predecessors transformed it into a venue for worldwide concerns.
Remaining Candidates
The 68-year-old Connolly, from Galway, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that heritage. She has assailed capitalist systems and said the group represents "a fundamental element" of the people of Palestine. She has accused NATO of promoting military solutions and equated Berlin's enhanced defense expenditure to the thirties, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.
Humphreys, 62, has been subjected to review over her time in office in cabinets that oversaw a housing crisis. Being a member of that faith from the northern county, she has also been criticised over her lack of Irish language skills but stated her Protestant heritage could aid in securing unionist community in a reunified nation.