John Swinney set to lead Scotland after being confirmed as leader of the Scottish National Party

LONDON (AP) — Former Scottish deputy prime minister, John Swinneywas confirmed as leader of the Scottish National Party on Monday and is set to become the country’s next leader, the third in just over a year.

Swinney, who led the SNP two decades ago, was the only candidate to replace Prime Minister Humza Yousaf at the helm of a party beset by turmoil since his long term in office. Nicolas Sturgeon She abruptly resigned last year during a campaign finance investigation that ultimately led to criminal charges against her husband.

“I am deeply honored to have been elected leader of @theSNP,” Swinney said on social media platform X. “I will give everything I have to serve my party and my country.”

Yousaf announced his resignation last week after a political miscalculation in which he ousted the Green Party from his coalition government. The SNP is just one seat short of a majority in the local parliament with 63 of 128 voting seats. He must therefore associate himself with at least one opposition party.

Swinney, 60, who joined the party aged 15, will try to bring stability to the SNP as it fights efforts by its enemies to weaken it in the run-up to parliamentary elections in the UK-wide planned later this year.

The Labor Party launched a motion of no confidence in Yousaf which failed last week after he announced his resignation.

The pro-independence SNP was weakened by the campaign finance scandal and divisions over transgender rights, but was ultimately brought down by Yousaf’s decision to oust the Greens over differences over climate change targets . Yousaf failed to convince other parties to support his minority government in the Scottish Parliament.

Faced with the prospect of two planned no-confidence votes, Yousaf resigned rather than be expelled.

He will remain prime minister until his replacement is elected. Swinney will likely be elevated to the role later this week after potential opponents to his bid to lead the SNP said they would not run against him.