Humza Yousaf, the first Muslim leader of a major political party in the UK, will face the challenge of continuing the fight for Scottish independence after the long tenure of Nicola Sturgeon, to whom he was one of the closest allies.
It was in Urdu and English that the new leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP), now 37, was sworn in when he was elected in 2011 to the Scottish Parliament.
After his victory on Monday, he paid tribute to his paternal grandparents, who came from Pakistan 60 years ago. “They could not have imagined in their wildest dreams that their grandson would one day become the next Prime Minister of Scotland.”
“It reminds us that we should (…) always celebrate the immigrants who contribute so much to our country,” he added, in a thinly veiled pique at the British government’s desire to toughen asylum conditions in the country. United Kingdom.
The first Muslim to hold a ministerial post in a Scottish government in 2012 and the youngest leader to lead the SNP, Humza Yousaf is especially hailed for his communication skills which could unite the party, at a time when support for independence – its main claim – stagnation in the country.
During her last appearance in Parliament as Prime Minister last week, Nicola Sturgeon called for unity, noting that her successor would either be the second woman to become Prime Minister or the first leader from a ethnic minority.
“Whatever the outcome, it will send a very powerful message that any young person in Scotland can aspire to the highest job in the country,” she said.
Born in Glasgow, Humza Yousaf was educated in a private school, then studied political science at the university of his native city, worked in a call center, before becoming an assistant to Alex Salmond, the predecessor of Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP.
Referring to his political debut, Humza Yousaf recounted having suffered racist attacks and comments, particularly after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
“I have been the victim of a huge amount of attacks online, and unfortunately sometimes also face to face,” he reported.
In 2021, with his second wife Nadia El-Nakla, he filed a discrimination complaint against a crèche which had refused to take in their daughter. The nursery had denied the accusations, but the body in charge of the inspections had found the complaint founded. The couple have since abandoned her.
Humza Yousaf assures that his own experience will lead him to defend the rights of all minorities, including those of homosexuals and transgender people. He promised that he would not legislate based on his own faith.
And this even if in 2014, he had been accused of knowingly avoiding a vote in Parliament to legalize marriage for same-sex couples, under pressure from Muslim dignitaries.
He defended himself during the campaign by saying he had other commitments that day, and passed the buck to one of his rivals for the SNP presidency, Kate Forbes, who assumes his conservative ideas inspired by his membership in a Scottish Evangelical Church.
This very close to Nicola Sturgeon, considered the candidate for continuity, and an assumed Republican, will above all have to show that he is ready to turn the Sturgeon page within the SNP.
He takes over from the emblematic leader at a time when the country is experiencing crises in its health system – of which he was responsible as minister – and in education.
His record in government was harshly criticized during the campaign.
But far from wanting to cut ties with his predecessor, he indicated that he would remain in close contact with her to seek her advice, while promising a more collegial governance and “less reduced to a restricted circle”.
27/03/2023 16:35:18 – Edinburgh (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
