[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Chris

A party’s leadership structure is defined by its constitution. You don’t have to have ‘a’ leader; you can have a committee or whatever you want. The Scottish Greens have co-leaders, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater.

However the Scotland Act requires there to be a First Minister. When the incumbent resigns, the parliament must choose a new one within 28 days (via a ballot of all MSPs - this is done by the parliament, not by the largest party or governing coalition). The king then formally appoints the winner.

If no candidate is presented to the king after 28 days, the parliament’s presiding officer is obliged to call a general election.

Sturgeon will not actually resign until the SNP has chosen a new leader. That person will then be presented to parliament as a candidate and will most likely be the only candidate. A vote must still take place and the candidate must secure a simple majority of MSP votes to be selected.

Thanks for explaining