Scotland’s former First Minister Alex Salmond has passed away suddenly at the age of 69. He was attending an international conference in North Macedonia when he became ill and lost consciousness at the Inex Olgica hotel. Local media reports indicate that he collapsed during lunch and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Salmond was a significant figure in Scottish politics, leading the country from 2007 to 2014 and heading the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1990 to 2000 and again from 2004 to 2014. He was a strong advocate for Scottish independence and led the pro-independence campaign ahead of the 2014 referendum. Although the referendum didn’t result in independence, Salmond’s leadership helped the SNP achieve an unprecedented majority in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election.

During his tenure, Salmond implemented popular policies, including free NHS prescriptions and free university tuition fees for Scottish students. However, his later years were marked by controversy, including allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied and was later acquitted of in 2020.

After leaving the SNP, Salmond founded the Alba Party, which aimed to support Scottish independence. Tributes have poured in from politicians across the spectrum, including First Minister John Swinney, who praised Salmond’s tireless work for Scottish independence, and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who acknowledged Salmond’s monumental contribution to Scottish and UK politics.