Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of the Scottish Government who advocated for Scotland's independence and pushed for the 2014 referendum, has passed away at the age of 69.
According to British newspapers The Guardian and The Telegraph on the 12th (local time), he suddenly collapsed and soon died after delivering a speech during a visit to North Macedonia.
Salmond was a key figure who led the growth of the independence-supporting faction from a small minority to a mainstream force in Scottish politics. The Scottish National Party (SNP) became the largest party by winning 47 seats in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, and Salmond assumed the position of First Minister.
During his two terms as leader of the SNP, he also achieved the 2014 referendum asking whether Scotland should become independent from the United Kingdom. In this referendum, which saw 84.6% voter turnout among residents aged 16 and over, about 45% voted in favor of independence, falling short of a majority. Salmond took responsibility for the referendum's failure and resigned as First Minister and SNP leader. He subsequently lost his parliamentary seat in the 2017 UK general election.
In 2018, Salmond faced a crisis when allegations of sexual misconduct at the First Minister's official residence surfaced, but he was ultimately acquitted in 2020, successfully making a political comeback. Dissatisfied with how the party leadership handled his scandal, Salmond left the SNP and founded the pro-independence Alba Party, contesting the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. However, he only secured 1.7% of the vote and failed to enter the parliament.
The news of his sudden death has been met with an outpouring of condolences. King Charles III of the United Kingdom said in a statement, "My wife, Queen Camilla, and I are deeply saddened by the sudden news. His dedication to Scotland led him to decades of public service," paying tribute to him.
John Swinney, the current First Minister of Scotland, said, "Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country he loved and its independence. He led the SNP from the margins of Scottish politics to government and moved Scotland very close to achieving nationhood," praising his legacy.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, "For over 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure in Scottish and UK politics. He left a legacy that will endure for a long time," and expressed condolences on behalf of the UK government.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, "We cannot pretend there were no breaks in our relationship," but also said, "He was a mentor, and we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics for over a decade." Sturgeon succeeded Salmond as First Minister in 2014 but their relationship deteriorated during Salmond's sexual misconduct scandal.
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