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Alex Salmond, Scotland’s Champion of Independence, Dies at 69

Alex Salmond, Scotland’s Champion of Independence, Dies at 69

By Grazia British

Culture

(Bloomberg) -- Alex Salmond, who turned his Scottish National Party’s dream of power into reality even though he didn’t see his vision of an independent country come true, has died. He was 69.

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Salmond collapsed on Saturday after delivering a speech in North Macedonia, the Times newspaper reported. No cause of death was given.

Salmond became Scotland’s leader, or first minister, in 2007 when he led a minority SNP government in the semi-autonomous Scottish parliament, the first time the party won the most votes in an election. Four years later, he led the SNP to an historic victory by winning an overall majority under a voting system designed to create coalition governments.

He resigned from the SNP in 2018, and was succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon, following allegations of sexual harassment of which he was later cleared. He was most recently the founder and leader of Scotland’s Alba Party.

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Originally published by yahoo.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Grazia British.

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