Humsa Yousaf, a European Muslim, the new leader of the Scottish independence movement

Humsa Yousaf, a 37-year-old Muslim born in Glasgow, is the new leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), after membership votes were counted to choose a replacement for Nicola Sturgeon, who stepped down as head of government in February. The new leader won with 52% of the vote compared to 48% for his main rival Kate Forbes.

In his first words, Yousaf pointed out that his priorities were to respond to the economy marked by the cost of basic needs and to improve the National Health Service, for which he was responsible for managing in the last Sturgeon cabinet as health minister. “I am a proud Scotsman and a proud European”he said to confirm his opposition to Brexit, the position of the majority in the region.

Following the general rejection of Sturgeon’s strategy of rigging the next general election in 2024. referendum on independence give strength to negotiations with London, Yousaf deferred specific obligations in this regard. The new chief minister wants to convince those opposed to secession with good government and encourage a social movement for ‘yes’.

Elections for the prime minister are scheduled for Tuesday, and Carlos III will officially appoint him a day later. The latest poll published by YouGov gives an eight-point advantage to ‘no’, and detailed analysis by Focaldata.com shows that the priorities of the population are those that Yousaf points out: the state National Health Services and the impact of price increases on their lives. The SNP would be the party with the most votes in the general elections or autonomous, but with reduced differences compared to Labor.

the question of legitimacy

Labor leader Anas Sarwar has already announced that he will question the legitimacy of the new leader to form the executive. It is his response to the independence campaign in 2001 rejecting Jack McConnell’s no-vote succession of Labour’s Henry McLeish. But the coalition of the SNP and the Greens has a large majority in Parliament in Edinburgh.

The the election for prime minister is scheduled for this Tuesday, and will be decided by a system of successive elimination of the candidate with the fewest votes among the proposals presented by each side. If the person who receives the most support in the first round exceeds 50% of the vote, he will directly take the position of prime minister. The official appointment by King Carlos III will take place on Wednesday.