Making a speech in Glasgow, Swinney told party members that an SNP majority at Holyrood in 2011 led to an independence referendum in 2014. “It will work again in 2026,” he said.
The UK government, which would have to approve any referendum, has repeatedly said it would reject any calls for a second referendum – even if the SNP won a majority.
Swinney insisted that fulfilling his “ambitious” target would ensure that the UK government would have to allow another vote – and that Labour ministers would have “big questions to answer” if they refused.
He said: “The best thing we can do for Scotland’s health service, the biggest step we can take to bring down energy bills across the board, and the best way to make daily life more affordable for people, is for Scotland to become an independent country.”
After almost 20 years in power, Swinney defended his party’s record in government, pointing to falling child poverty levels in Scotland, unemployment rates and growth in the renewable energy sector.
The first minister said: “Scotland is by no means a perfect country.
“But, by goodness, given everything thrown at us in recent years, Scotland has strong foundations for the future under SNP leadership.”