ALEX Salmond has spoken of his "optimism and confidence" in the future as he addressed MSPs for the last time as First Minister.
Despite defeat in September's vote, he claimed the referendum had "energised" a country now keen to see a more powerful Scottish Parliament.
"Goodbye and good luck," were his final words to MSPs before departing yesterday for the Scotland versus England football match at Celtic Park, his last official engagement.
Nicola Sturgeon will today be voted in as First Minister by MSPs. She will be sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh tomorrow. A Cabinet reshuffle is expected at the end of the week.
Yesterday, she faced calls from Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to stop campaigning for a second independence referendum and accept the proposals of the Smith Commission "no ifs, no buts".
Mr Salmond used his farewell speech to tell MSPs: "It has been the privilege of my life to serve as First Minister these last seven-and-a-half years. Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it is 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, talent and potential of the people of Scotland."
Political opponents praised his commitment to Scotland.
However, Scots Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie was booed by SNP backbenchers when he said the referendum had been divisive and the wounds inflicted would take "years to heal".
Earlier, Mr Salmond unveiled a rock monument at Heriot-Watt University inscribed with his pledge: "The rocks will melt with the sun before I allow tuition fees to be imposed on Scottish students." He said scrapping tuition fees was his greatest achievement as First Minister, but Scottish Conservative MSP Liz Smith said the rock marked a damaging policy.
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