The Jim Gavin Withdraws from Irish Race for the Presidency
In a surprising turn of events, one of the leading contenders in Ireland's election for president has left the campaign, upending the political landscape.
Withdrawal Announcement Shakes Up Election Dynamics
The party's Jim Gavin stepped down on Sunday night following reports about an financial obligation to a previous occupant, converting the race into an volatile direct competition between a center-right ex-minister and an autonomous progressive member of parliament.
Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who joined the election after careers in sports, airline industry and defense, withdrew after it came to light he had failed to return a excess rental payment of €3,300 when he was a property owner about 16 years ago, during a period of financial difficulty.
"It was my fault that was not in keeping with my character and the expectations I hold. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he said. "I have also thought long and hard, concerning the influence of the continuing election battle on the health of my family and friends.
"After evaluating everything, My decision is to step down from the race for the presidency with immediate effect and go back to my family."
Contest Reduced to Primary Hopefuls
The most dramatic event in a political contest in living memory reduced the field to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is representing the ruling centre-right party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an frank advocate for Palestine who is supported by a political party and left-leaning minor parties.
Crisis for Leadership
This departure also caused a problem for the taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, the party chief, who had risked his standing by nominating an untried candidate over the skepticism of associates in the party.
The leader stated it was about not wanting to "create turmoil" to the presidency and was right to withdraw. "Jim has accepted that he was at fault in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days."
Campaign Struggles
Despite a reputation for competence and success in enterprise and sports – under his leadership the capital's GAA team to five straight titles – his campaign had stumbled through blunders that put him at a disadvantage in an survey even ahead of the debt news.
Party members who had opposed selecting the candidate said the episode was a "significant mistake" that would have "repercussions" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.
Election Rules
His name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will end the 14-year tenure of the current president, but the electorate now confronts a two options between a traditional center candidate and an autonomous progressive. A poll taken before Gavin's exit gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and 23 percent for Humphreys, with Gavin on 15%.
According to voting regulations, the electorate chooses candidates in order of preference. If no candidate exceeds 50% on the first count, the candidate with the least initial choices is removed and their support is passed to the following option.
Likely Support Redistribution
Observers anticipated that should Gavin be removed, 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.
Role of the Presidency
The presidency is a primarily ceremonial position but the current and former presidents turned it into a platform on global issues.
Surviving Hopefuls
Connolly, 68, from Galway, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that heritage. Connolly has attacked free-market policies and stated the group represents "part of the fabric" of the Palestinian community. She has charged Nato of militarism and likened the country's raised military budget to the thirties, when Germany underwent rearmament.
Humphreys, 62, has faced scrutiny over her record as a minister in cabinets that oversaw a accommodation problem. A Presbyterian from the border county of Monaghan, she has also been faulted for her failure to speak Gaelic but commented her faith tradition could assist in gaining unionist community in a combined country.
