The Scottish National Party (SNP) opened nominations Tuesday for a new leader, setting up a potentiallyfractious internal fight, after First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was quitting.
Yousaf, 39, announced Monday he would resign once a successor has been chosen to lead the SNP and nation of 5.4 million people, which has a devolved government responsible for domestic policy areas.
He had only been in the job for just over a year, but was forced out after ditching his junior coalition partners in a row over climate policy.
Candidates to replace him have until Monday next week to declare they are standing, with senior SNP figures backing former deputy first minister John Swinney for the top job.
Swinney, 60, who led the SNP from 2000 to 2004, told journalists in London that he was “actively considering” putting himself forward.
Meanwhile, others have voiced support for former finance secretary Kate Forbes, who has not yet indicated if she will run.
Forbes, 34, finished a close second to Yousaf in the SNP’s last bitterly fought leadership contest, prompted by the shock departure of Nicola Sturgeon after eight years at the helm of the pro-independence party.
However, her socially conservative views are seen as a potential hindrance, in particular because she will need the support of another party to either form a governing coalition or pass pieces of legislation.
The new SNP leader, expected to be in place by early June at the latest, will need enough votes in the 129-seat Scottish parliament to be elected first minister.
The party is currently two votes short of an overall majority, so will rely on the support of some opposition lawmakers, such as the Scottish Green Party’s seven pro-independence members.
