Rhun ap Iorwerth to Become Wales' New First Minister within Days

Screenshot taken from this BBC article. | Rhun ap Iowerth could be first minister as early as Tuesday | GETTY IMAGES
BBC: Wales is set to be led by its first Plaid Cymru first minister, after three other Senedd parties indicated they would either back Rhun ap Iorwerth's nomination or not oppose him.

Plaid, with 43 seats, and Reform, with 34, are now the only big parties in Cardiff Bay.

In the Senedd vote, which could be as soon as Tuesday, ap Iorwerth needs more votes than any other candidate, rather than a majority of all Members of the Senedd (MSs), to be the winner.

Ken Skates, interim Labour leader after Eluned Morgan lost her seat, has indicated that his group will abstain, as will sole Liberal Democrat MS Jane Dodds.

But the Green Party, with two MSs, will back ap Iorwerth, meaning he cannot now be blocked. » | Adrian Browne | Wales political reporter | Sunday, May 10, 2026

Plaid Cymru Ready to Run Wales, Leader Says, after Labour's Historic Senedd Election Collapse

BBC: Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says he is ready to run the Welsh government after a stunning Senedd election victory left his party the largest group in Wales' parliament.

The historic vote saw Reform UK come second, pushing Labour into third and ending a century-long run of election success in Wales.

Plaid fell short of a majority in the 96-member Senedd, but with 43 seats has a better chance than anyone of forming a government with the help of at least some opposition politicians.

Ap Iorwerth said he would begin the process of speaking to other parties, and that the pro-independence party would put him forward to be first minister.

The Senedd will need to confirm who will lead the Welsh government in a vote, which could happen as early as Tuesday.

The dramatic day of results saw the current first minister, Eluned Morgan, lose her seat and resign as Welsh Labour leader.

Labour has won every general election since 1922 in Wales and, until this week, every Cardiff Bay election since the Senedd's predecessor the National Assembly was established in 1999.

It had been in charge of the Welsh government for 27 years. » | David Deans, Wales political reporter and Adrian Browne, Wales political reporter | Published: Thursday, May 7, 2026. Updated: Friday, May 8, 2026