Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond Dies at 69; Heart Attack Confirmed as Cause

The Alba Party has announced that Alex Salmond, the ex-First Minister of Scotland, passed away due to a heart attack. He was 69 years old and died unexpectedly in North Macedonia on Saturday after he collapsed while having lunch in a packed room.

Monday, October 14, 2024, 23:

The Alba Party has announced that a post-mortem examination revealed Alex Salmond died of a heart attack.

The former first minister of Scotland, who served from 2007 to 2014, passed away unexpectedly in North Macedonia on Saturday at the age of 69.

Mr. Salmond had delivered remarks at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in Ohrid and then fainted in a packed room while lunch was being served.

The Scottish administration is collaborating with officials from the UK to repatriate his remains.

Conservative Member of Parliament David Davis, a friend of the late leader of the Scottish National Party, has requested that the Royal Air Force transport his remains to the UK.

A condolence book has been placed in the Scottish parliament, allowing visitors to pen messages that will be forwarded to his family.

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Over the weekend, tributes included remarks from Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, who commended Mr. Salmond for motivating a generation to support independence. He acknowledged Mr. Salmond's extensive and impactful role in public service over many years.

The family of Mr. Salmond expressed that he was "a dedicated and affectionate spouse, an intensely loyal sibling, a proud and considerate uncle, and a reliable and true friend."

They noted that "Alex stood out as a powerful political figure, a remarkable speaker, and an exceptional intellect, earning admiration globally" and that he "committed his entire adult life to his passionate belief in Scottish independence."

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Buckingham Palace released a statement in which the King expressed that he and the Queen were deeply saddened upon learning of Mr. Salmond’s unexpected passing.

Mr. Salmond held the position of SNP leader initially from 1990 until 2000, and then again from 2004 to 2014

Further reading: The impact of Salmond's passing is felt throughout UK political circles. Obituary: Remembering Alex Salmond, a colossus in the political arena.

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He stepped down as first minister following the defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence vote, in which 55% of the electorate opted to remain part of the UK.

In 2021, Mr. Salmond introduced his new party, Alba, advocating for Scottish independence, following a fallout with his successor, Nicola Sturgeon.

In his later years, Mr. Salmond successfully sued the Scottish government and was awarded over £500,000 after a court determined that the investigation into harassment allegations against him was compromised by clear bias.

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In November 2023, he declared his intention to take additional measures.

Mr. Salmond cautioned that a "day of reckoning" for the Scottish government was approaching, identifying former First Minister Ms. Sturgeon and the previous permanent secretary Leslie Evans as parties involved in the case, alleging their misconduct.

After his passing, Kenny MacAskill, the acting head of Alba, stated that the decision to pursue the lawsuit against the Scottish government would be left to Mr. Salmond's family.

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