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With an unexpected announcement, one of the primary hopefuls in the Irish presidential election has quit the contest, dramatically altering the political landscape.

Withdrawal Announcement Reconfigures Campaign Landscape

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin withdrew on the evening of Sunday following revelations about an unpaid debt to a past renter, converting the race into an unpredictable head-to-head battle between a moderate right former government minister and an autonomous progressive parliamentarian.

Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who was parachuted into the campaign after work in athletics, flying and armed forces, withdrew after it came to light he had not repaid a rent overpayment of 3,300 euros when he was a property owner about 16 years ago, during a period of economic hardship.

"I committed an error that was contrary to who I am and the principles I uphold. I am currently resolving the issue," he said. "After careful consideration, about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the health of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, My decision is to step down from the presidential election contest with immediate action and rejoin my loved ones."

Contest Reduced to Two Main Contenders

The most dramatic event in a political contest in living memory limited the options to Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister who is representing the incumbent center-right political party Fine Gael, and Catherine Connolly, an vocal supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by a political party and small leftwing opposition parties.

Crisis for Leadership

The withdrawal also caused a problem for the prime minister and party head, Micheál Martin, who had staked his authority by nominating an inexperienced hopeful over the doubts of party colleagues.

Martin said it was about not wanting to "create turmoil" to the office of president and was justified in leaving. "Jim has accepted that he committed a mistake in relation to an matter that has arisen in recent days."

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 consecutive championship victories – his campaign had stumbled through blunders that caused him to fall behind in an survey even ahead of the debt news.

Party members who had opposed selecting Gavin said the fiasco was a "significant mistake" that would have "repercussions" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.

Voting System

Gavin's name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will conclude the lengthy term of the current president, but people must choose between a binary choice between a traditional center candidate and an non-aligned left-leaning candidate. Opinion research conducted ahead of Gavin's exit gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and 23 percent for Humphreys, with the former candidate at 15 percent.

Under electoral rules, people pick hopefuls by ranked choice. If no candidate exceeds 50% on the first count, the contender receiving the lowest initial choices is eliminated and their support is passed to the subsequent choice.

Possible Ballot Shifts

It was expected that should Gavin be removed, the bulk of his support would shift to the other candidate, and vice versa, enhancing the possibility that a establishment hopeful would win the presidential office for the governing partnership.

Function of the President

The presidency is a mostly representative role but incumbents and past holders turned it into a stage for international matters.

Remaining Candidates

Connolly, 68, from Galway, would bring a strong leftwing voice to that legacy. Connolly has attacked capitalist systems and stated the group represents "an integral component" of the people of Palestine. Connolly has alleged Nato of militarism and compared Berlin's enhanced defense expenditure to the thirties, when Germany underwent rearmament.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has faced scrutiny over her time in office in administrations that managed a property shortage. Being a member of that faith from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been criticised over her inability to speak Irish but said her Protestant heritage could aid in securing Northern Ireland's unionists in a reunified nation.