NICOLA Sturgeon has said she is hopeful that both SNP and Green members will embrace the two parties’ joint government plans "enthuiastically".
As Green members across the country discuss the proposal ahead of a crunch vote on Saturday, the First Minister said she was “optimistic” they would back it.
The SNP’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee (NEC), unanimously endorsed the power-sharing plan on Saturday.
Ms Sturgeon said there would be consultation and “engagement” with SNP members this week, however they will not, unlike Green members, get a vote.
Speaking to the PA news agency on a visit to Cumbernauld, the First Minister said last Saturday’s NEC had been “upbeat”, adding: “The degree of enthusiasm for this is really quite tangible.
“I think there’s a recognition that there’s big, transformational things we want to do over this term of the Scottish Parliament.
“Therefore to give us a stable majority, but also to do politics differently and better.
“To focus on areas of agreement between political parties rather than the polarised, divided approach to politics that sometimes characterises debate right now, not just in Scotland but across the world.”
She added: “I’m confident the SNP will embrace this, certainly the feedback I’ve had so far has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I’ll be doing engagement with party members over the course of this week as well.
“I’m optimistic and hopeful the Scottish Green Party will be equally enthusiastic but their internal processes are of course a matter for them.”
Ms Sturgeon and Scottish Green co-leaders unveiled the draft agreement on Friday, saying it was a further step towards a fairer, greener, Independent Scotland.
The pact stops short of a full coalition, but will see two Green MSPs become ministers.
The five-year shared policy platform includes a £500 million Just Transition Fund to move away from oil and gas, a Bill for gender recognition reform within a year and a national rent control system which will be implemented by 2025.
Later on Monday morning, it emerged that an SNP councillor for Aberdeenshire was resigning from the party in response to the deal with the Greens.
Councillor Geva Blackett said government policy was being made without concern for the challenges remote rural communities face.
Voters will get their first chance to pass judgment on the SNP-Green deal in next May's council elections
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