'Remarkable set of events'published at 14:42 British Summer Time 25 April
BBC Scotland's former political editor Brian Taylor has described today's announcements as a "remarkable set of events".
He tells the BBC News channel he believes the first minister did not want several weeks of indecision and uncertainty.
"He's decided to go on the front foot to presume that the pact is at an end and to call an end to that pact himself," Taylor says. "The advantage of that is it gives him the agenda, it gives him the control."
He adds that it also allows the government to concentrate on economic growth again.