He was head of the Scottish government when the 2014 independence referendum was held.
The former Prime Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, died on Saturday at the age of 69, British media, including the BBC, reported.
The British public broadcaster said he died suddenly after falling ill at the end of a speech in North Macedonia.
Salmond was leader of government between 2007 and 2014 and negotiated with the British government – led by David Cameron – to hold an independence referendum in Scotland and was also in office when the 2014 referendum was held. On September 18, 2014, ‘no’ to independence prevailed over ‘yes’, by 55% compared to 45%.
After the defeat in the independence referendum, Salmond resigned as Scotland’s first Prime Minister.
He was also the leader of Scottish National Party (SNP) between 2004 and 2014, until he left office in November that year and was replaced by Nicola Sturgeon.
In 2018, amid internal tensions, he resigned from the Scottish National Party (SNP) and in 2021 founded the pro-independence party Alba, which has a member in the Scottish Parliament.
Alex Salmond was also charged with 13 sexual offences, including attempted rape, against nine women between 2008 and 2014, although he was later convicted. acquitted by the High Court of Scotland.
Reactions to his death
The former president of the Generalitat Carles Puigdemont “deeply” regretted his sudden death and expressed his support for the family in a message about the social network’s self-determination in Scotland in 2014.
Former president Pere Aragonès also considers Alex Salmond an independence leader. “We lose a man who is passionate about his country and a reference for the people fighting for independence,” he emphasized in a message from X.
ERC spokesperson Marta Vilalta expressed her “immense sadness” on the same social network. Salmond was a “key figure in the struggle for the independence of Scotland and, by extension, of all peoples who aspire to decide their future in freedom,” he said.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Scottish First Minister John Swinney have expressed their condolences over Salmond’s sudden death.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
