Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond dies

Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland, has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69.

The ex-MP and MSP, who was in charge of the country from 2007 to 2014, fell ill while participating in an international conference in North Macedonia.

The government of North Macedonia reported that Mr. Salmond passed out at the Inex Olgica hotel, located close to the city of Ohrid, around 3:30 PM local time on Saturday.

According to local news reports, he fell unconscious during lunch and was declared dead at the location. The Alba party, which he headed, suspects that a heart attack was the reason for his death, as reported by the Press Association.

Messages of respect and admiration have come in from all political sides, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling him a "significant figure in Scottish and UK politics."

Nicola Sturgeon, who took over as first minister from Salmond, remarked that he had been her guide and that "for over ten years, we created one of the most effective collaborations in British politics."

King Charles expressed deep sadness over Salmond's unexpected passing, stating that both he and the Queen felt a significant loss. He emphasized that Salmond's commitment to Scotland inspired his long years of public service.

"We offer our heartfelt sympathies to his family and those close to him during this difficult time."

Salmond was at the forefront of the campaign for independence prior to the 2014 referendum. After the results showed that Scottish voters favored staying in the UK by a margin of 55% to 45%, he stepped down from his position as first minister.

He guided the SNP to victory in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2007, after having served as the party's leader from 1990 to 2000.

Salmond, who was Scotland's first First Minister in favor of independence, subsequently guided the SNP to a historic majority in the election four years later, setting the stage for the referendum to take place.

During his time in charge, the Scottish government implemented widely appreciated measures such as providing free NHS prescriptions and eliminating tuition fees for students at Scottish universities.

Following his resignation as first minister, he had a dramatic fallout with Sturgeon regarding her administration's poor handling of the harassment allegations made against him.

Salmond was found not guilty of major sexual assault allegations following a trial in Edinburgh in 2020.

He faced 13 different charges, including attempted rape, but after two weeks of testimony at the High Court, he was found not guilty of all the allegations.

The women who accused Salmond of misconduct, which took place during his tenure as first minister, included an SNP politician, a party employee, and several current and former civil servants and officials from the Scottish government.

While testifying in court, he stated that the accusations regarding his supposed actions were either "intentional falsehoods aimed at political gain" or "overstatements."

During his final address to the jury, Salmond's attorney stated that while the ex-first minister "certainly could have been a better person," he did not break any laws.

Following his departure from the SNP, Salmond established a new political party dedicated to supporting independence, named Alba, where he took on the role of leader.

He had his own program on the contentious Russian network RT, but he put it on hold after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Alba has contacted the UK foreign office to seek assistance in bringing Salmond's body back to the UK.

Kenny MacAskill, the deputy leader, praised Salmond as "the most exceptional Scottish politician, not only of his time but for many years before." He highlighted Salmond's remarkable charisma and ability to connect with people, which made him beloved by countless individuals in Scotland.

While honoring her former political mentor, Sturgeon expressed that she was "taken aback and saddened" to hear about Salmond's passing.

She continued, "Clearly, I can't act as if the things that occurred over the last few years, which caused our relationship to fall apart, didn't take place. It wouldn't be fair for me to pretend otherwise."

Nevertheless, it's important to acknowledge that for many years, Alex played a crucial role in my life.

He was my guide, and together we built one of the most thriving collaborations in British politics for over ten years.

First Minister John Swinney expressed that he was "profoundly shocked and saddened" by the announcement and offered his sympathies to Salmond's wife, Moira, and his family.

Swinney stated, "Alex dedicated himself completely and bravely defended the nation he cherished and its freedom."

He transformed the Scottish National Party from the edges of Scottish politics into a governing force and brought Scotland very near to achieving independence.

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf acknowledged that he and Salmond have certainly had their disagreements over the past few years. However, he expressed admiration for the significant impact Salmond has had on both Scottish and UK politics.

The Scottish Parliament has flown its flags at half-mast to honor Salmond.

Salmond was born on New Year's Eve in 1954 in Linlithgow. He later pursued studies in economics and medieval history at the University of St Andrews, where he became a member of the SNP soon after his arrival in 1973.

He subsequently took on the role of assistant economist at the UK government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland. After that, he joined the Royal Bank of Scotland, where he spent seven years as an economist, ultimately focusing on the oil and gas sector.

He represented the SNP as the Member of Parliament for Banff and Buchan from 1987 to 2010 and became the leader of the party in 1990.

Salmond was chosen as a member of the Scottish Parliament when it was established in 1999. However, he stepped down from his role as party leader just a year later, only to take on the leadership again in 2004.

Sir Keir Starmer referred to Salmond as a "significant figure in Scottish and UK politics."

The prime minister stated: "During his time as Scotland's first minister, he was genuinely passionate about the country's heritage, history, and culture, along with the communities he served as both an MP and MSP throughout his long career."

"I would like to express my sympathy for everyone who knew him, including his family and loved ones. On behalf of the UK government, I extend our heartfelt condolences to them today."

Rishi Sunak, who was the prime minister before Starmer, remarked, "Alex Salmond played a significant role in our political landscape."

"Although I had a different opinion on the constitutional issue, I couldn't overlook his debating abilities or his enthusiasm for politics. May he find peace."