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With an unexpected announcement, one of the leading candidates in the Irish election for president has left the campaign, upending the political landscape.

Withdrawal Announcement Shakes Up Campaign Landscape

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin stepped down on Sunday night following disclosures about an outstanding payment to a past renter, transforming the contest into an volatile direct competition between a centre-right ex-minister and an independent leftwing member of parliament.

Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who was parachuted into the election after careers in sports, airline industry and defense, withdrew after it emerged he had not repaid a excess rental payment of 3,300 euros when he was a lessor about 16 years ago, during a period of monetary strain.

"It was my fault that was inconsistent with who I am and the principles I uphold. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he said. "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 presidential election contest with immediate effect and rejoin my loved ones."

Contest Reduced to Leading Candidates

The most dramatic event in a presidential campaign in recent history limited the options to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is representing the ruling centre-right party Fine Gael, and Catherine Connolly, an outspoken advocate for Palestine who is backed by a political party and small leftwing opposition parties.

Crisis for Leadership

Gavin's exit also created turmoil for the taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, the party chief, who had risked his standing by choosing an untried candidate over the reservations of fellow members.

The leader stated Gavin did not want to "create turmoil" to the presidency and was justified in leaving. "He acknowledged that he committed a mistake in relation to an matter that has arisen in recent days."

Election Challenges

Despite a reputation for competence and success in business and sport – Gavin had steered Dublin's Gaelic football team to five consecutive championship victories – his election effort faltered through blunders that caused him to fall behind in an opinion poll even before the unpaid debt disclosure.

Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had opposed selecting Gavin 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 election on 24 October, which will finish the long service of Michael D Higgins, but the electorate now confronts a binary choice between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. A poll taken before Gavin's exit gave Connolly a third of the vote and 23 percent for Humphreys, with Gavin on 15%.

According to voting regulations, voters select hopefuls by ranked choice. If no candidate exceeds a majority in round one, the candidate with the least primary selections is eliminated and their votes are transferred to the following option.

Potential Vote Transfers

It was expected that should Gavin be removed, most of his votes would shift to the other candidate, and vice versa, boosting the chance that a pro-government candidate would secure the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Presidential Duties

The role of president is a primarily ceremonial position but incumbents and past holders transformed it into a stage for international matters.

Remaining Candidates

Connolly, 68, from her home city, would introduce a robust progressive perspective to that heritage. She has assailed capitalist systems and said the group represents "an integral component" of the Palestinian people. She has accused Nato of militarism and likened the country's raised military budget to the thirties, when Adolf Hitler rearmed the country.

Humphreys, 62, has been subjected to review over her record as a minister in administrations that managed a property shortage. Being a member of that faith from the border county of Monaghan, she has also been criticised over her failure to speak Gaelic but stated her faith tradition could aid in securing unionist community in a united Ireland.