three candidates are in the running to succeed Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon

Three candidates are in the running to replace the independence Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland, who resigned on February 15. Their party, the SNP, which formalized the list of contenders on Friday February 24.

Among the candidates is the Secretary of State for Finance, Kate Forbes, 32 years old. His recent remarks on gay marriage have sparked strong reactions in his left-leaning party. Also in the ranks are the local Minister of Health, Humza Yousaf, 37, the first Muslim member of a government in Scotland, and Ash Regan, 48. This former minister resigned in 2022 over her opposition to the controversial gender transitions bill.

Nicola Sturgeon, 52, in power since 2014 and whose objective was Scottish independence, announced that she was throwing in the towel on February 15, explaining that she no longer had the necessary energy. After a brief campaign, an internal SNP vote will decide his successor, whose name will be announced on 27 March. Nicola Sturgeon remains in post during the transition.

This election is very important for the future of the United Kingdom, whose divisions between the four constituent nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have been aggravated by Brexit. The three candidates have promised to take up the torch for independence.

The shock announcement of Nicola Sturgeon’s departure leaves a big void. In eight years in power, the leader who arrived after the “no” victory in 2014 has managed to revive her defeated camp, accumulating electoral success.

The independence cause found itself at the heart of the debates after Brexit, which was opposed by 62% of Scots. For the SNP, a break with London would allow it to return to the European Union.