Scottish Independence Leader Alex Salmond Dies at 69.

 

Alex Salmond, a prominent figure in the Scottish independence movement and former First Minister of Scotland, passed away at age 69 on Saturday. Public figures across Scotland and the UK paid tribute to the political giant, who fell ill and collapsed after delivering a speech in North Macedonia. 

According to British media, Salmond is believed to have suffered a heart attack, though a post-mortem will confirm the cause. King Charles led the tributes, stating, "His devotion to Scotland drove his decades of public service." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised Salmond's legacy, highlighting his deep care for Scotland’s history and culture during his time as First Minister from 2007 to 2014.

Salmond was instrumental in pushing for Scottish independence, nearly achieving it in the 2014 referendum when 45% of voters supported leaving the UK. After the defeat, he stepped down as First Minister and SNP leader, later founding the Alba Party in 2021 to continue advocating for independence.

Scottish First Minister John Swinney expressed shock and sadness at Salmond's untimely death, recognizing his enormous contributions to politics in Scotland and beyond. Alba Party General Secretary Chris McEleny called Salmond a "father of the nation" and a mentor to many.

Salmond remained influential after his political career, hosting a show on Russian broadcaster RT and weathering legal challenges, including being cleared of sexual misconduct charges in 2020.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar added, "Alex was a central figure in politics for over three decades, and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape cannot be overstated."