Anas Sarwar has called into question Humza Yousaf’s mandate as he repeated demands for an early Holyrood election.
The Scottish Labour leader was reacting to the conclusion of the SNP leadership race which saw the Health Secretary edge out Kate Forbes to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
Sarwar questioned whether Yousaf would prioritise the cost-of-living crisis ahead of pushing for Scottish independence.
And other opposition party leaders offered lukewarm reactions to the result of the SNP leadership race.
Sarwar said: "While I question his mandate and the SNP’s record, it is important to reflect on the election of what will be the first first minister from an ethnic minority background.
"Regardless of your politics, this is a significant moment for Scotland.
"But while Scotland faces the twin crises of the cost of living and the NHS emergency, it is clear that the SNP does not have the answers that Scotland needs.
"This chaotic and divided party is out of touch and out of ideas.
"Humza Yousaf has inherited the SNP’s woeful record, but he has not inherited Nicola Sturgeon’s mandate.
“We need an election now and Scottish Labour is the change that Scotland needs.”
Keir Starmer sent his congratulations to Humza Yousaf following his victory.
"The first first minister of an ethnic minority background is a significant moment for Scotland," he said.
“The SNP do not have the answers on the NHS or on the cost-of-living crisis. Only Labour can provide the change that Scotland needs."
The Scottish Greens said they hoped Yousaf would "build on the legacy of his predecessors"
The party and the SNP have governed together since August 2021, when Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvey were made junior ministers by Nicola Sturgeon.
In a statement after Yousaf’s victory, the Greens said: "As partners in the Bute House agreement, we are encouraged his election will be viewed as an endorsement of these shared values as Scotland looks to embrace a fairer, greener and more equal future.
The leader of the Scottish Lib Dems criticised Yousaf’s record as Health Secretary after he was elected as next leader of the SNP.
Alex Cole-Hamilton: said: “There are huge challenges facing our country but sadly Humza Yousaf has not proven equal to those challenges in his previous roles. That’s not just my verdict, but that of his colleague Kate Forbes.
“On his watch, one in seven Scots are on a waiting list and his NHS recovery plan has completely failed to tackle crises in A&E, cancer care, mental health and dentistry.”
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservatives leader, said: "We encourage him to govern for all of Scotland and abandon his divisive plans to push independence relentlessly as the self-styled ‘first activist’.
"For the good of Scotland, we hope he does not lurch from failure to failure as he did when he was Nicola Sturgeon’s Health Secretary, justice secretary and transport minister."
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