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Salmond set to be first minister Salmond elected as first minister
(about 5 hours later)
Alex Salmond is set to become the first Nationalist to lead Scotland when he is elected first minister later. Alex Salmond has made political history after becoming the first Nationalist to be elected first minister of Scotland.
However, he will have to strive for consensus as the head of Holyrood's first minority government. The SNP leader, whose party became the biggest following the election, will also head the first minority government in Scotland since devolution.
Mr Salmond is set to be voted into the top job by MSPs after the SNP became the largest party in the election. Mr Salmond was voted in by MSPs, seeing off a final challenge from Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell.
He is also expected to immediately set about a radical reshaping of the Scottish Executive to meet the key aims of his government. Without an overall majority in parliament, the new first minister will now need to strive for consensus.
The election saw the SNP win 47 seats, just one ahead of Scottish Labour, while the Scots Liberal Democrats were left with 16.
The Scottish Conservatives have 17 MSPs, although one of their number, Alex Fergusson, has taken up the politically neutral job of presiding officer.
Shake-up
The Scottish Greens returned two MSPs and the colourful Independent Margo MacDonald was re-elected.
Mr Salmond it set to become the first Nationalist to win power in the party's 73-year history.
The Greens are to back him in a Scottish Parliament vote, and the Tories and Liberal Democrats are expected to sit on their hands once their leaders are eliminated in the first round.
Jack McConnell is the current first minister
That means Mr Salmond will defeat Scottish Labour leader and current first minister Jack McConnell in a final vote, before heading for St Andrew's House, the headquarters of the executive.
The SNP leader will also confirm a shake-up, cutting the number of departments from nine to six oblige ministers and civil servants to work towards five key aims - including making Scotland healthier, wealthier, safer and better educated.
Mr Salmond also wants to enhance Scotland's global profile.
But he has insisted he will not provoke conflict with London, rather seeking a "partnership of equals" with the UK government.