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In a surprising turn of events, one of the main candidates in the Irish presidential election has quit the race, upending the election dynamics.

Sudden Exit Transforms Campaign Landscape

The party's presidential hopeful pulled out on the evening of Sunday following disclosures about an unpaid debt to a past renter, converting the election into an unpredictable two-horse race between a center-right former government minister and an autonomous progressive member of parliament.

Gavin, 54, a political novice who was parachuted into the campaign after work in sports, airline industry and defense, quit after it emerged he had neglected to refund a overpaid rent of €3,300 when he was a lessor about in the mid-2000s, during a period of financial difficulty.

"It was my fault that was contrary to my values and the standards I set myself. Corrective actions are underway," he stated. "After careful consideration, concerning the influence of the current political contest on the health of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, My decision is to step down from the race for the presidency with right away and return to the arms of my family."

Contest Reduced to Leading Candidates

A major surprise in a election race in recent history narrowed the contest to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is running for the ruling centre-right party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by Sinn Féin and small leftwing opposition parties.

Challenge for Party Head

This departure also caused a problem for the leader of Fianna Fáil, the party chief, who had risked his standing by selecting an inexperienced hopeful over the skepticism of associates in the party.

He commented it was about not wanting to "create turmoil" to the presidential role and was justified in leaving. "Gavin recognized that he made an error in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days."

Political Difficulties

Even with a track record of skill and accomplishments in business and sport – under his leadership the Dublin football squad to multiple successive wins – his campaign had stumbled through missteps that left him trailing in an survey even prior to the financial revelation.

Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had opposed selecting Gavin said the episode was a "significant mistake" that would have "ramifications" – a thinly veiled warning to Martin.

Voting System

The candidate's name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will finish the long service of Michael D Higgins, but voters now face a binary choice between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. Survey results prior to Gavin's exit gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and Humphreys nearly a quarter, with Gavin on 15%.

Under electoral rules, voters select hopefuls by ranked choice. If no candidate exceeds a majority in round one, the contender receiving the lowest first preference votes is excluded and their votes are transferred to the subsequent choice.

Possible Ballot Shifts

It was expected that in the event of his exclusion, the bulk of his support would shift to the other candidate, and conversely, increasing the likelihood that a mainstream contender would attain the presidency for the allied parties.

Function of the President

The presidency is a primarily ceremonial position but incumbents and past holders transformed it into a platform on global issues.

Remaining Candidates

The 68-year-old Connolly, from her home city, would introduce a robust progressive perspective to that heritage. She has criticized capitalist systems and said the organization constitutes "a fundamental element" of the Palestinian community. She has charged NATO of promoting military solutions and equated the country's raised military budget to the 1930s, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has encountered examination over her time in office in administrations that managed a accommodation problem. As a Protestant from the northern county, she has also been faulted for her inability to speak Irish but said her Protestant heritage could aid in securing unionist community in a reunified nation.