Alex Salmond faces competition from both his deputy and his predecessor for the accolade of being named Scottish Politician of the Year later this month.
Nicola Sturgeon, the Health and Wellbeing Secretary, and John Swinney, who was party leader and is now Finance and Sustainable Growth Secretary, are alongside the First Minister on the short-list for the top award, sponsored by The Herald.
This makes it the first time in the nine years of the awards that a single party has monopolised nominations for the main award. It reflects a year when the SNP used its role in opposition to put pressure on the former Executive parties, ran a highly effective election campaign, and won the admiration of former critics over its first six months in government.
Mr Swinney and Ms Sturgeon also find themselves in competition for the Donald Dewar Debating Award, sponsored by eaga, the energy efficiency group. With the standard of debate raised since the election, the other contender is Tavish Scott, who was Transport Minister for the first part of the year and has been the LibDems' finance and sustainable growth spokesman since the election.
A new category in the Scottish Politician of the Year awards, for the International Scot of the year, includes the Tartan Army on the shortlist. This is in recognition of the national football team's supporters for their positive role in projecting Scotland's image abroad, and also for the charitable work they carry out, including support for a children's charity during their recent visit to Georgia.
The Tartan Army's representatives will find out if they are to win the trophy at a gala dinner on Thursday, November 15, at Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh, only two days before the Scotland team faces a crunch match against world champions Italy, which is crucial to qualification for the European championships.
Criteria for winning the International Scot Award, sponsored by Keppie Design, are for recognition of an individual or group making a significant impact in promoting Scotland's political, economic, cultural or charitable initiatives at home or abroad, using global links and networks in a creative and innovative fashion.
The other two short-listed contenders are Sir Tom Hunter, the entrepreneur and philanthropist who has joined forces with former US president Bill Clinton in an initiative to improve health and education in Africa, and Black Watch, the production by the National Theatre of Scotland which has won powerful praise in US theatre reviews, for exploring a highly political theme and showcasing Scottish culture at its best.
The other award that does not go to a politician is in recognition of those who make an impact on the political system by campaigning from outside it.
In its fourth year, the Public Campaign of the Year, sponsored by Ukio Bankas, has two campaigns responding to recent events: those fighting for the funds invested in the collapsed Farepak Christmas savings scheme, and the support group that has demanded an inquiry into the fatal explosion at the ICL/Stockline plastics factory in Glasgow in May 2004. The longer-run campaign up for recognition is the Haemophiliac Forum, including those who were infected with hepatitis C through blood transfusions.
Among the other awards, Gordon Brown is short-listed as the Best Scot at Westminster. While having won that trophy on previous occasions, the past year has seen him elevated from Chancellor to Prime Minister.
It has not been the smoothest of transitions, however, which is why the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP faces competition from his Chancellor, Alistair Darling, and from Angus Robertson, the new SNP leader at Westminster who masterminded his party's campaign for Holyrood.
The One to Watch category, sponsored by Microsoft, has returned this year and, although there are more than 30 new MSPs, Tory education spokeswoman Elizabeth Smith, a Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP, is the only one to make the shortlist. Her Tory colleague Derek Brownlee is also in the running, only two years after becoming an MSP and now in a key position in the Tory team. The other contender is Jackie Baillie, the Labour business manager. A former Communities Minister, she has returned to the front line as a key figure in Wendy Alexander's leadership team.
The Free Spirit of the Year recognises those who show most independence of spirit and mind and, although not a vintage year for rebellion, the shortlist recognises the success of Margo MacDonald as being the only independent to be re-elected, while Holyrood newcomber Lord George Foulkes and the SNP's Christine Grahame are both there for their ability to rock their leaderships' boats.
John Clough, chief executive of eaga, which is sponsoring the debating category, said: "The stature and reputation of these awards continues to grow, both here in Scotland and internationally, and we are delighted to be sponsoring the prestigious Donald Dewar Debating Award."
With Ukio Bankas backing the public campaigner award, board chairwoman Edita Karpaviciene, said the finance house "is delighted to sponsor the award. Ukio Bankas has always strived to put its customers first, and we support those members of the public that play a role in Scotland's diverse community".
The editor of The Herald, Charles McGhee, said: "We are extremely grateful to all our sponsors for helping to make this event the highlight of Scotland's political year.
"The final nominations reflect how the Scottish political landscape has changed so dramatically since the election in May, and I would like to congratulate all those who have made the short-list."
The nominations
Scottish Politician of the Year
Alex Salmond (SNP)
Nicola Sturgeon (SNP)
John Swinney (SNP)
Best Scot at Westminster
Gordon Brown (Labour)
Alistair Darling (Labour)
Angus Robertson (SNP)
Donald Dewar Debater of the year
Sponsored by eaga
Tavish Scott (Lib Dem)
Nicola Sturgeon (SNP)
John Swinney (SNP)
One to Watch
Sponsored by Microsoft
Jackie Baillie (Lab)
Derek Brownlee (Con)
Elizabeth Smith (Con)
Free Spirit of the Year
George Foulkes (Lab)
Christine Grahame (SNP)
Margo MacDonald (Ind)
International Scot Award
Sponsored by Keppie Design
Black Watch, National Theatre of Scotland
Sir Tom Hunter
The Tartan Army
Public Campaign of the Year
Sponsored by Ukio Bankas
Farepak savers' campaign
Haemophilia Forum
ICL Plastics/Stockline Factory Support Group
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by Diageo
Judges:
Charles McGhee, editor of The Herald; Douglas Fraser, The Herald; Iain MacWhirter, The Herald; Paul Hutcheon, Sunday Herald; Colin Mackay, Emap Radio; Joe Quinn, Press Association; Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland.
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