While supporters of the former first minister lamented Alex Salmond's untimely death on Saturday, John Swinney paid homage to the former first minister's "colossal contribution" to Scottish and UK politics.

First minister Swinney claimed that Salmond had brought Scotland "incredibly close" to independence and transformed the Scottish National party into a powerful force that could win several elections. As a result, Salmond had a significant influence on public life.

“Alex made a colossal contribution to Scottish politics,” Swinney told Trevor Phillips on Sky News on Sunday. “I think it’s been universally acknowledged that politically, Alex Salmond had a huge impact on our public life within Scotland and the United Kingdom.”

Salmond had “a sense of absolute determination to succeed in his politics”, married to an ability to bring people together, he added.

“There was real drive and energy right at the heart of it. It was that combination of real drive and strategic thinking, which was at the heart of the success that Alex Salmond delivered.”

Despite the deep fracture between Salmond and some in the SNP, which prompted him to resign his membership and set up the rival pro-independence Alba party in fury at the Scottish government’s handling of sexual harassment complaints against him, SNP activists were asked on Sunday to pause campaigning in key council byelections as a mark of respect.

Salmond fell out bitterly with Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister who described Salmond as her mentor, over her independence strategy and then investigations into his alleged sexual misconduct.

Salmond was found not guilty of 12 charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault after a criminal trial in 2020, while the jury delivered the uniquely Scottish verdict of not proven on one charge of sexual assault with intent to rape.

Giving evidence, Salmond admitted with hindsight he wished he had been “more careful with people’s personal space”, while his defence lawyer, Gordon Jackson, described his behaviour as “inappropriate” and “touchy-feely” during cross-examination.

Salmond, 69, died of a suspected heart attack on Saturday in North Macedonia, where he had been attending a forum organised by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy along with Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, the chair of his Alba party.

Kenny Macaskill, the acting Alba leader, told BBC Scotland News that he heard the news when he took a call from Salmond’s “deeply distressed” companions in North Macedonia.

Mark Donfried of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, which organised the youth leadership conference Salmond was attending, said the former first minister was caught by a fellow delegate as he fell backwards at a lunch event.

Donfried said he rushed to call for an ambulance but that paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. He said Salmond had been in good spirits at the annual conference, which brings together young people to learn leadership skills and critical thinking, and was planning a return event in Scotland.

A senior aide from Alba is thought to be in Skopje to arrange the repatriation of his body, with the help of officials from the Foreign Office.

Salmond’s family described him as a “formidable politician, an amazing orator, an outstanding intellect, and admired throughout the world”.

In a statement released by the Alba party, they said: “He loved meeting people and hearing their stories, and showed incredible kindness to those who needed it.

“He dedicated his adult life to the cause he believed in – independence for Scotland. His vision and enthusiasm for Scotland and the ‘yes’ movement were both inspirational and contagious.

“But to us, first and foremost, he was a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a proud and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend.”

Joanna Cherry, the former SNP MP who became a close ally of Salmond after they were elected to Westminster in the 2015 election, described his death as “shocking and devastating”.

“Alec was one of the finest politicians of his generation, and the finest first minister we’ve had to date,” she said on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show. “As well as being a strong leader, he had an ability to reach out to people who disagreed with him.”

As an indication of the depth of sadness felt by friends and colleagues, Geoff Aberdein, one of Salmond’s closest advisers as first minister, fought back tears on the same BBC programme as he described the “transformational” impact working for the politician had on his life. Floral tributes were accumulating outside the Scottish parliament building in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon.

Ian Blackford, the SNP’s former Westminster leader, who fell out with Salmond while party treasurer, said he was “utterly shocked and saddened” to hear of his death.

“Alex’s talents were extraordinary in leading people, leading a government and in leading a country,” he said. “There is no doubt that Alex’s strength of character and personality were critical in the SNP achieving electoral success.”

Senior SNP figures are now reflecting on the wider impact Salmond’s death may have on the party.

His passing leaves Swinney as the only substantial figure in Scottish nationalism left in a leadership position, and some raise concerns that he is not of sufficient stature to see off the significant challenge from Labour at the 2026 Scottish parliament elections.

Others suggest that this could prompt a much-needed period of reflection, both about the extent of the rift between Salmond and Sturgeon and the party’s domination by those two figures, perhaps with the result of bringing people back together.

Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Swinney said: “Obviously it has been a difficult few years, and there’ll be time to reflect on all of those issues in the days to come, but I think today all of us can recognise the formidable contribution Alex Salmond made to transforming the SNP into a party of government, transforming Scotland into a country that believed ever more that its future was as an independent country.”