The brand new leader of the Scottish independence movement Humza Yousaf must be formally elected this Tuesday as First Minister of Scotland by the local Parliament, after promising the day before that he would continue the fight for independence.
Humza Yousaf, 37, was elected leader of the majority Scottish Independence Party (SNP) on Monday, following an internal ballot triggered by the surprise resignation of Nicola Sturgeon last month after eight years in office.
"Independence Generation"
Former Health Minister Humza Yousaf - a close friend of Nicola Sturgeon - is to be formally elected Prime Minister on Tuesday by the local Parliament in Edinburgh, becoming the first Muslim to lead a major political party in the UK and one of the constituent nations. from the country.
Once elected Prime Minister by the local Parliament, he must be officially appointed to this post by royal warrant and take the oath on Wednesday before the Court of Session, Scotland's supreme court.
After his victory on Monday, Humza Yousaf promised to be part of "
the generation that will achieve independence for Scotland
", stressing that "
the people
" of Scotland "
need independence now, more than ever
".
In London, Downing Street however countered that the Scots wanted officials "
who focus on the issues most important to them: reducing inflation, dealing with the cost of living crisis and reducing waiting lists
" in the health system.
Read alsoLondon blocks the road to Scottish independence
The Scottish government has jurisdiction over many issues including education, health and justice.
More broadly, the arrival of Humza Yousaf has potentially serious consequences for the future of the United Kingdom, whose divisions between its four constituent nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have been aggravated by Brexit. .
In the referendum held in 2014, 55% of Scots voted against independence, but the debate was revived by leaving the European Union: 62% of Scots opposed it, a break with London becoming a way to return to the European Union.
But support for independence, at the heart of the left-wing SNP programme, is currently stagnating and the departure of the charismatic Nicola Sturgeon casts doubt on the future.
According to a YouGov opinion poll on March 13, 46% of respondents are in favor of independence (against 50% last month).
Including the undecided, the proportion drops to 39%.
On the subject, Humza Yousaf pledged on Monday to launch a popular movement in favor of self-determination, even if the British Supreme Court ruled last year that the Scottish government could not organize a new referendum without the London agreement, which strongly opposes such a vote.
Progressive positions
Humza Yousaf embodies continuity with progressive positions on social issues and anchored on the left on the economy, wishing for example to increase taxes on the richest in Scotland, which has 5.5 million inhabitants.
He also backs the controversial law facilitating gender reassignment, which was blocked by London and put his predecessor in difficulty.
This law was to allow the recognition of gender change, without medical advice and from the age of 16.
Grandson of immigrants, Humza Yousaf paid tribute on Monday to his paternal grandparents, who came from Pakistan 60 years ago.
“
It reminds us that we should (…) always celebrate the immigrants who contribute so much to our country
,” he said, in a thinly veiled jab at the British government's desire to toughen asylum conditions in the country. United Kingdom.
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