Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin Withdraws from Irish Election Campaign
In a surprising turn of events, one of the main candidates in Ireland's presidential election has quit the race, dramatically altering the election dynamics.
Withdrawal Announcement Transforms Political Contest
Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin pulled out on the evening of Sunday following disclosures about an financial obligation to a past renter, converting the election into an uncertain head-to-head battle between a moderate right past cabinet member and an non-aligned left-leaning member of parliament.
The 54-year-old Gavin, a inexperienced candidate who entered the campaign after work in sport, aviation and the military, withdrew after it emerged he had failed to return a rent overpayment of €3,300 when he was a landlord about a decade and a half ago, during a period of financial difficulty.
"I made a mistake that was inconsistent with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he declared. "After careful consideration, regarding the possible effects of the current political contest on the wellbeing of my loved ones and companions.
"After evaluating everything, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate action and go back to my family."
Contest Reduced to Primary Hopefuls
The most dramatic event in a election race in living memory narrowed the contest to Heather Humphreys, a ex-minister who is campaigning for the governing moderate right party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an frank advocate for Palestine who is endorsed by Sinn Féin and minor progressive groups.
Problem for Leader
Gavin's exit also caused a problem for the prime minister and party head, Micheál Martin, who had put his reputation on the line by selecting an untried candidate over the skepticism of party colleagues.
He commented Gavin did not want to "create turmoil" to the presidency and was right to withdraw. "Gavin recognized that he was at fault in relation to an issue that has emerged recently."
Political Difficulties
Even with a track record of skill and accomplishments in commerce and athletics – he guided Dublin's Gaelic football team to multiple successive wins – his campaign had stumbled through gaffes that caused him to fall behind in an survey even ahead of the debt news.
Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had objected to picking the candidate said the fiasco was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "repercussions" – a barely concealed caution to Martin.
Ballot Process
Gavin's name may stay on the voting paper in the poll taking place in late October, which will end the 14-year tenure of Michael D Higgins, but voters now face a binary choice between a centrist establishment candidate and an independent leftwinger. Survey results prior to the withdrawal gave Connolly a third of the vote and Humphreys 23%, with 15 percent supporting Gavin.
As per election guidelines, the electorate chooses candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches half the votes initially, the hopeful with the fewest first preference votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred to the subsequent choice.
Likely Support Redistribution
It was expected that if Gavin was eliminated, a majority of his ballots would go to Humphreys, and the other way around, enhancing the possibility that a pro-government candidate would secure the presidency for the allied parties.
Role of the Presidency
The role of president is a mostly representative role but Higgins and his predecessors made it a venue for worldwide concerns.
Final Contenders
The 68-year-old Connolly, from Galway, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that legacy. Connolly has attacked capitalist systems and said Hamas is "part of the fabric" of the Palestinian community. She has accused Nato of militarism and likened Berlin's enhanced defense expenditure to the 1930s, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.
The 62-year-old Humphreys, has faced scrutiny over her record as a minister in governments that presided over a property shortage. Being a member of that faith from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been faulted for her inability to speak Irish but stated her religious background could assist in gaining unionist community in a combined country.
