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Alex Salmond re-elected as First Minister | | Topical issues | 18-05-2011, 16:32 |  70  405 |
| Alex Salmond was re-elected to the post of First Minister today after the SNP's landslide election victory earlier this month.
The SNP leader stood unopposed for the position, which will give him five more years in charge of the next Scottish Government, informs "The Daily Express".
MSPs backed Mr Salmond's appointment, which requires official final approval by the Queen, by 68 votes to zero, with 57 abstentions.
Mr Salmond was among 69 SNP politicians to win a place in the 129-seat parliament - an unprecedented majority victory since devolution in 1999.
Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats congratulated the first minister at Holyrood today.
Mr Salmond used the occasion to renew his challenge to Westminster to hand increased tax and borrowing powers to the Scottish Parliament.
He said: "I think we should seize the moment - act together to bring these powers back home.
"Let this parliament move forward, as one, to make Scotland better."
Labour leader Iain Gray has announced he will step down in the autumn and Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said she will not stand for re-election in the next party contest.
Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott was replaced yesterday by new MSP Willie Rennie - one of just five Lib Dems returning to parliament.
Green co-leader Patrick Harvie remains in his pre-election position with one other party colleague at Holyrood.
Mr Salmond also repeated his party's intention to hold a referendum on independence within the five-year parliament.
He said: "We see our nation emerge from the glower of self-doubt and negativity - a change is coming and the people are ready.
"They put ambition ahead of hesitation and the process is not about endings, it's about beginnings."
Mr Salmond went on: "Whatever changes take place in our constitution, we will remain close to our neighbours. | | |
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