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Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, has died, it was announced on Saturday.
He had been in North Macedonia, delivering a speech. He was 69.
A fiery orator and towering figure in Scottish politics, Salmond transformed the Scottish National party’s electoral appeal, propelling them into power at the devolved parliament in Holyrood in 2007, where the SNP still govern.
In 2011, the majority the SNP secured in that parliament built momentum towards independence from the UK, setting the scene for the referendum of 2014.
The campaign, which sparked a strong debate, ended in a win for the UK status quo and his resignation as first minister and party leader.
In 2018, he was accused of sexual misconduct but two years later a jury acquitted him of all 13 offence charges in a two-week trial.
The scandal destroyed his relationship with his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, and the SNP more broadly. Since 2021, he led the splinter pro-independence Alba Party.
