Scotland's Prime Minister Hamza Yousaf announced his resignation on Monday ahead of a no-confidence vote in his government scheduled for the coming Wednesday, which he appears poised to lose.
Yousaf's departure seemed inevitable after he gambled last week by ending a power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party, sparking anger among its leaders and leaving him at the helm of a minority government without clear allies.
His opponents then pressed for two motions of no confidence, expected to be voted on Wednesday.
After deliberating his options for several days, Yousaf, Scotland's first Muslim leader, declared in a speech at Bute House in Edinburgh, the official residence of the Scottish First Minister, that he would resign.
Yousaf stated that after spending the weekend reflecting on what is best for his party, government, and the nation he leads, he has concluded that repairing their relationship across the political divide can only be achieved with someone else at the helm.
He intends to continue as First Minister until his successor is elected.
His resignation comes just over a year after assuming leadership of the Scottish National Party, which has dominated the country's politics for over a decade and is advocating for Scottish independence. The Scottish Parliament now has 28 days to choose his successor.
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