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With an unexpected announcement, a key main candidates in Ireland's election for president has withdrawn from the campaign, dramatically altering the entire competition.

Sudden Exit Shakes Up Campaign Landscape

The party's presidential hopeful stepped down on the evening of Sunday following reports about an unpaid debt to a past renter, converting the election into an volatile direct competition between a moderate right ex-minister and an autonomous progressive parliamentarian.

Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who was parachuted into the election after careers in athletics, flying and armed forces, stepped aside after it emerged he had failed to return a overpaid rent of €3,300 when he was a landlord about 16 years ago, during a period of economic hardship.

"I committed an error that was inconsistent with my character and the standards I set myself. I am currently resolving the issue," he declared. "I have also thought long and hard, concerning the influence of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, I have decided to withdraw from the campaign for president with right away and return to the arms of my family."

Race Narrowed to Primary Hopefuls

The most dramatic event in a political contest in recent history narrowed the contest to Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister who is representing the ruling centre-right political party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an vocal advocate for Palestine who is backed by Sinn Féin and small leftwing opposition parties.

Challenge for Party Head

This departure also caused a problem for the leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, who had put his reputation on the line by selecting an unproven contender over the doubts of party colleagues.

The leader stated the candidate wished to avoid "bring controversy" to the presidential role and was right to withdraw. "He acknowledged that he was at fault in relation to an situation that has come up lately."

Campaign Struggles

Although known for skill and accomplishments in business and sport – under his leadership the Dublin football squad to five straight titles – his political bid struggled through missteps that left him trailing in an opinion poll even before the unpaid debt disclosure.

Fianna Fáil figures who had opposed selecting the candidate said the situation was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "consequences" – a implied threat to the leader.

Election Rules

The candidate's name may stay on the voting paper in the poll taking place in late October, which will conclude the lengthy term of President Higgins, but people must choose between a dichotomy between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. Opinion research conducted ahead of his departure gave Connolly a third of the vote and Humphreys 23%, with 15 percent supporting Gavin.

As per election guidelines, people pick contenders based on preference. Should no contender surpass a majority in round one, the contender receiving the lowest primary selections is excluded and their votes are transferred to the following option.

Possible Ballot Shifts

It was expected that in the event of his exclusion, most of his votes would shift to the other candidate, and conversely, boosting the chance that a pro-government candidate would win the presidential office for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Function of the President

The presidency is a mostly representative role but Higgins and his predecessors made it a venue for worldwide concerns.

Remaining Candidates

Connolly, 68, from her home city, would introduce a robust progressive perspective to that heritage. Connolly has attacked capitalist systems and stated Hamas is "part of the fabric" of the people of Palestine. Connolly has alleged Nato of militarism and compared Germany's increased defence spending to the thirties, when Germany underwent rearmament.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has encountered examination over her time in office in governments that presided over a accommodation problem. Being a member of that faith from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been criticised over her lack of Irish language skills but said her Protestant heritage could assist in gaining unionist community in a combined country.