Scottish nationalists chose Humza Yousaf as the country’s next leader on Monday, following a bitterly contested election that exposed deep divisions within his party over policy and a stalled independence campaign.

The 37-year-old practicing Muslim succeeds Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and will take over as head of the semi-autonomous government once he receives approval from the Scottish parliament.

Yousaf, who will be the first Muslim to lead a country in Western Europe, said he would concentrate on tackling the cost-of-living crisis, ending the divisions in the party, and making a renewed push for independence.

“The people of Scotland need independence now, more than ever before and we will be the generation that delivers independence,” he said in a speech in Edinburgh after the results were announced.

Yousaf’s victory was confirmed at the national rugby ground after a six-week campaign where the three candidates spent much of the contest criticizing each other’s record in a series of personal attacks.

The SNP’s unity, which had been one of its strengths, broke down over arguments about how to achieve a second independence referendum and the best way to introduce social reforms such as transgender rights.

Yousaf takes over a party with an overriding objective to end Scotland’s three-centuries-long union with England. His predecessor stepped down after the British government repeatedly blocked a route to a new vote on independence.

While about four in 10 Scots support independence, according to a poll this month, the departure of Sturgeon – a charismatic and commanding leader – may initially slow some of the momentum behind a breakup of the United Kingdom.