Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond has died at age 69.

Scotland holds an election Thursday that could hasten the breakup of the United Kingdom.

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 file photo, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond poses for photographs in Turriff, Scotland. The former First Minister is setting up a new pro-independence party that will field candidates in the countrys upcoming elections. The governing Scottish National Party, which Salmond led for two decades until 2014, hopes to use the vote as a springboard to another referendum on Scottish independence, and is leading in opinion polls. The new party is the latest twist in a bitter feud between Salmond and with his successor as SNP leader, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Salmond was Scotland’s first minister between 2007 and 2014, playing a major role in transforming the separatist party into Scotland's dominant political force.

A Scottish parliamentary investigation says Sturgeon misled lawmakers about sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor. Lawmakers have been investigating the Scottish governments handling of sexual harassment allegations against former First Minister Alex Salmond. A report published Tuesday says Sturgeon gave lawmakers an inaccurate account of what happened at a key meeting with Salmond in 2018 and "misled the committee on this matter. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)LONDON – A Scottish parliamentary investigation concluded in a split decision Tuesday that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon misled lawmakers about sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor. … But I am clear in my mind that I acted appropriately and that I made the right judgements overall," Sturgeon told lawmakers.

FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020, file photo, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks during a 'Scotland's European Future after Brexit' event at the European Policy Center in Brussels. Sturgeon did not mislead lawmakers or act improperly over sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor, a senior lawyer said Monday, March 22, 2021 in his report into a scandal that is roiling Scottish politics. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, Pool, File)LONDON – Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon didn't mislead lawmakers or act improperly over sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor, a senior lawyer said Monday in his report into a scandal that has roiled Scottish politics. Hamilton’s probe centers on the Scottish government’s handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond, who served as Scotland’s first minister before Sturgeon took office in 2014. The political and personal feud has pitted Sturgeon against her former friend and mentor Salmond, and is wracking Scotland’s governing Scottish National Party.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks at the Holyrood Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday March 18, 2021. Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed suggestions that she misled lawmakers, saying she stands by testimony she gave to the Scottish parliament committee investigating her governments handling of sexual harassment allegations against her predecessor Alex Salmond. (Andy Buchanan/PA via AP)LONDON – Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed suggestions that she misled lawmakers, saying opposition members of a legislative panel had made up their minds before they heard her evidence. If Sturgeon is found to have misled parliament, she could be forced to resign for breaking the rules governing the conduct of government ministers. In his testimony to the committee, Salmond criticized the government of his one-time friend for undermining democratic principles and the rule of law.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon takes the oath before giving evidence to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints, at Holyrood in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wednesday March 3, 2021. The inquiry is investigating the governments handling of sexual harassment allegations against former leader Alex Salmond, and allegations that Sturgeon misled parliament. Its antagonists are Salmond and Sturgeon, two former allies and friends who have dominated Scottish politics for decades. AdHe accuses Sturgeon of lying about when she learned of the allegations and breaking the code of conduct for government ministers. AdAn election for the Scottish Parliament is due in May, and the SNP has a strong lead in opinion polls.

The handling of the coronavirus pandemic by Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has drawn praise, in contrast to the sometimes-chaotic approach of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. That has catapulted the idea of Scottish independence from the U.K. back up the political agenda. The four parts of the U.K. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland acted together to impose a nationwide lockdown in March. If Sturgeons Scottish National Party wins the anticipated majority, she is likely to demand a new independence referendum. I would love to have independence, but I think maybe now is not the time.___Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak