Nicola Sturgeon has announced she will stand down as First Minister of Scotland after eight years.
In a shock announcement, the SNP leader told a press conference that she believes it is the right time to stand aside.
The longest serving - and first female - First Minister said from her residence at Bute House in Edinburgh that she will remain in office while the SNP select her successor.
"Since my very first moments in the job I have believed a part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else," she said.
"In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it's right for me, for my party and my country."
The SNP leader said she knew there were some people who would "feel upset by this decision".
Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed that she is stepping down as First Minister of Scotland.
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 15, 2023
She told a press conference that she knew it was the right time to stand down and said she will remain in office until her successor is elected | Read more: https://t.co/iCoqHLJlsq pic.twitter.com/uPMFc9ldOr
She added: "And of course for balance there will be some who, how can I put this, will cope with the news just fine, such is the beauty of democracy.
"But to those who do feel shocked or disappointed, or perhaps even a bit angry with me, please... be in no doubt that this is really hard for me.
"My decision comes from a place of duty and of love.
"Tough love, perhaps, but love nevertheless for my party and above all for the country."
Ms Sturgeon said that giving absolutely everything to the job is the only way to do it, and the nature and form of modern political discourse means there is a greater intensity - adding that it takes its toll on "you and the people around you".
She said being First Minister and Deputy First Minister is a "privilege", adding: "But they are also really hard and especially in the case of First Minister relentlessly so.
"Now to be clear, I'm not expecting violins here. But I am a human being as well as a politician.
She added: "My point is this, giving absolutely everything of yourself to this job is the only way to do it. The country deserves nothing less.
"But in truth that can only be done by anyone for so long. For me, it is now in danger of becoming too long.
"A First Minister is never off duty, particularly in this day and age there is virtually no privacy. Even ordinary stuff that most people take for granted like going for a coffee with friends or for a walk on your own becomes very difficult."
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Ms Sturgeon had recently become embroiled in a row over transgender policies after Scotland passed a Gender Recognition Reform Bill, making it easier for people to change their legal gender, however she told reporters that her decision was not linked to short-term issues.
She said standing down as First Minister would "free" the SNP to take a decision on how best to pursue independence "without worrying about the perceived implications for my leadership".
"I feel that duty first and foremost to our country to ensure that it has the energy of leadership that it needs not just today but through the years that remain of this parliamentary term.
"And right now, in a very particular sense, I feel that duty to my part too. We are at a critical moment. The blocking of our referendum as the accepted constitutional route to independence is a democratic outrage.
"My preference of using the next Westminster election as a de facto referendum is well known."
But she added: "I have always been clear that decision must be taken by the SNP collectively, not by me alone, but I know my party well enough to understand that my view as leader would carry enormous, probably decisive, weight, when our conference meets next month.
"And I cannot in good conscience ask the party to choose an option based on my judgment whilst not being convinced that I would be there as leader to see it through.
"By making my decision clear now I free the SNP to choose the path it believes to be the right one without worrying about the perceived implications for my leadership."
Tributes from Irish political leaders
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar paid tribute to Ms Sturgeon, saying he had the pleasure of working with her through the British Irish Council.
He said: "I always found Nicola a very warm person, articulate and thoughtful, and a very capable politician, who showed huge commitment to her country. She was also a true European.
"I wish Nicola and her family the very best for the future."
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin added: "Over many years, Nicola has demonstrated strong leadership rooted in her vision for Scotland.
"Ireland and Scotland are close neighbours and friends, and I have greatly appreciated and valued my regular engagement with the First Minister, particularly at British-Irish Council summits.
"I want to wish her all the best and look forward to engaging with her successor in due course."
President Michael D Higgins has also paid tribute, saying she had made a distinguished contribution to public life.
He said: "During her time in office, Nicola Sturgeon brought a freshness and enthusiasm to the tasks of representation and public service that was singular.
"This was exemplified in the leadership she displayed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she communicated necessary reassurance with the sharing of practical measures that had to be taken."
However, former US president Donald Trump said the "wonderful people of Scotland are much better off" without Ms Sturgeon in office.
Writing on Truth Social, the platform he set up after being kicked off Twitter and Facebook following the Capitol riots, Mr Trump said: "Good riddance to failed woke extremist Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland!
"This crazed leftist symbolises everything wrong with identity politics.
"Sturgeon thought it was OK to put a biological man in a women's prison, and if that wasn't bad enough, Sturgeon fought for a 'Gender Recognition Reform Bill' that would have allowed 16-year-old children to change their gender without medical advice."
In a second post on the platform, Mr Trump continued: "I built the greatest golf properties in the world in Scotland, but she fought me all the way, making my job much more difficult.
"The wonderful people of Scotland are much better off without Sturgeon in office!"
Historic career as First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon's historic career as First Minister will be remembered for the fight for Scottish independence and tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.
She will leave office as the longest-serving and first female First Minister since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Ms Sturgeon joined the Scottish National Party at the age of 16 and rose through the ranks to take top billing after Alex Salmond stood down following the defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and was voted in as First Minister days later.
But now, Ms Sturgeon will stand down from the top post without realising her key political ambition - securing Scottish independence.
Ms Sturgeon's historic leadership oversaw a challenging health crisis as she announced a string of restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Her government has also been facing criticism as the NHS struggles to recover from the impact of the pandemic, with soaring waiting times in emergency departments.
Ms Sturgeon's main political ambition was to lead Scotland to independence - but after the Supreme Court ruled last year that Holyrood could not lawfully legislate on the constitutional issue, her party will meet next month to discuss treating the next UK election as a "de facto referendum".
In recent weeks, legislation from her government which pushed through controversial gender reforms has taken centre stage in Ms Sturgeon's long political career.
The UK government blocked the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Act which made it easier to self-identify as a chosen gender.
And the housing of transgender prisoners in the female estate has exacerbated the issue.
