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Alex Salmond resignation speech predicts change for Scotland Alex Salmond resignation speech predicts change for Scotland
(35 minutes later)
Alex Salmond has used his resignation speech as first minister to say "more change and better days" lie ahead for Scotland.Alex Salmond has used his resignation speech as first minister to say "more change and better days" lie ahead for Scotland.
He told parliament that serving in the job for seven-and-a-half years was the "privilege of my life".He told parliament that serving in the job for seven-and-a-half years was the "privilege of my life".
Nicola Sturgeon is expected to be voted in as first minister by MSPs on Wednesday, after she took over the SNP leadership at the weekend.Nicola Sturgeon is expected to be voted in as first minister by MSPs on Wednesday, after she took over the SNP leadership at the weekend.
Mr Salmond is considering whether to stand as an MP in the 2015 UK election.Mr Salmond is considering whether to stand as an MP in the 2015 UK election.
Mr Salmond, who decided to step back from frontline Holyrood politics in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum, said: "It has been the privilege of my life to serve as first minister for these last seven-and-a-half years.Mr Salmond, who decided to step back from frontline Holyrood politics in the wake of the "No" vote in September's Scottish independence referendum, said: "It has been the privilege of my life to serve as first minister for these last seven-and-a-half years.
"Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it's vastly outweighed by a sense of optimism and confidence."Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it's vastly outweighed by a sense of optimism and confidence.
"Confidence that we will have an outstanding new first minister, confidence in the standing and the capability of this chamber and - most of all - confidence in the wisdom, the talent, the potential of the people of Scotland.""Confidence that we will have an outstanding new first minister, confidence in the standing and the capability of this chamber and - most of all - confidence in the wisdom, the talent, the potential of the people of Scotland."
Mr Salmond, whose wife Moira looked on as he addressed MSPs, added: "Scotland has changed - changed utterly and much for the better over the 15 years of this parliament and over the seven years of this government.Mr Salmond, whose wife Moira looked on as he addressed MSPs, added: "Scotland has changed - changed utterly and much for the better over the 15 years of this parliament and over the seven years of this government.
"I'm happy to say with every degree of certainty that more change and better days lie ahead for this parliament and for Scotland.""I'm happy to say with every degree of certainty that more change and better days lie ahead for this parliament and for Scotland."
The referendum on Scotland's future saw voters turn out to reject independence by 55% to 45%, on a turnout of almost 85%.
Mr Salmond, who has said he is staying on as an MSP, added: "Scotland now has the most energised, empowered and informed of any country in Europe.
"We have a new generation of citizens who understand that their opinion matters, who believe that their voice will be heard and who know that their vote can shape the society they live in.
"For all of us that should be a point of pride, a source of challenge.
For me, the sense of generational change has been a factor in deciding the time is right to move on from being first minister."
Earlier in the day, Mr Salmond unveiled a monument at Edinburgh's Heriot Watt University, bearing one of his famous quotes.
The commemorative stone was inscribed with the Robert Burns inspired phrase: "The rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scottish students," a comment made by Mr Salmond in 2011 while championing his government's higher education policy.