the current party forming the scottish government is the scottish national party (snp), which won 63 of 129 seats available in the 2016 scottish parliament election. the snp was formed in 1934 with the aim of achieving scottish independence. they are broadly centre-left and are in the european social-democratic mould. they are the largest party in the scottish parliament and have formed the scottish government since the 2007 scottish parliament election.