The presidential elections of Dublin (Reuters) -Ireland will be played by a former minister and a leftist legislator after a third candidate, a former Gaelic soccer coach, retired from the competition after questions about his time as an owner almost 20 years ago.
The withdrawal of Jim Gavin on Sunday, the candidate for Fianna Fail, one of the two ruling parties of Ireland, means that the contest for the role in large ceremonial part will be a direct shooting between the independent legislator Catherine Connolly and former minister Heather Humphreys.
The Irish independent newspaper reported a claim of a former tenant that Gavin had not returned an excessive rental payment of more than 3,000 euros ($ 3,500) that was the result of a bank error.
In a statement, Gavin said that the last days they had given him “reasons to reflect.”
“I made an error that was not in line with my character and the standards I put on. Now I am taking measures to address the matter,” he said.
Connolly, one of the main pro-palestinian voices in Parliament, has built a coalition that represents most of the opposition, including the largest member Sinn Fein, who chose not to present his own candidate.
Fine Gael, the other ruling party of Ireland, is supporting Humphreys, a former Minister of Social Affairs.
A survey for the Sunday Independent newspaper published on Sunday morning put Connolly in 32%, Humphreys at 23%and Gavin at 15%.
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(Graham Fahy report; Lincoln Feast edition.)
(Tagstotranslate) Jim Gavin (T) Heather Humphreys (T) Catherine Connolly (T) Gaelic Soccer (T) Ireland (T) Presidential Choice (T) Fine Gael