Rhun ap Iorwerth Set to Become Wales' First Plaid Cymru First Minister This Week
Rhun ap Iorwerth is expected to become Wales' first Plaid Cymru First Minister within days, after three other Senedd parties indicated they would either endorse his nomination or not oppose it. Plaid, holding 43 seats, and Reform, with 34, now constitute the dominant forces in Cardiff Bay.
In the upcoming Senedd vote, potentially as early as Tuesday, ap Iorwerth requires more votes than any other candidate, rather than an outright majority of all Members of the Senedd (MSs).
Interim Labour leader Ken Skates has confirmed his group will abstain, a position echoed by sole Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds. However, the Green Party, with its two MSs, will back ap Iorwerth, ensuring his path to the top cannot now be blocked.
A procedural issue surrounding the selection of individuals to oversee Senedd meetings could, however, push ap Iorwerth's confirmation to Wednesday. This arises if the parliament cannot decide on the presiding officer (Llywydd) and deputy at its initial post-election meeting. Convention dictates one presiding officer should originate from the government and another from the opposition, unless a two-thirds Senedd waiver is secured. Reform has reportedly informed Plaid it would not agree to such a waiver.
Ap Iorwerth has stated his intention for Plaid Cymru to govern independently, without forming a coalition. He has emphasised a desire for cross-party cooperation and Senedd-wide support for his policy agenda, vowing to challenge the UK Labour government if it fails Wales and to confront Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer when necessary.
