May 12, 2026 - 216 views
Rhun ap Iorwerth has been formally elected as Wales’ new First Minister, becoming the first non-Labour politician to lead the Welsh Government since devolution began in 1999.
The Plaid Cymru leader was backed by 44 Members of the Senedd during a historic vote in Cardiff on Tuesday as the newly elected Senedd met for the first time following last week’s election.
Reform UK Wales leader Dan Thomas received 34 votes, while Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar secured seven. Labour MSs and Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds abstained from the ballot.
The result marks a seismic shift in Welsh politics, ending more than a quarter of a century of Labour leadership in Cardiff Bay and cementing Plaid Cymru’s breakthrough victory in the 2026 Senedd election.
Born in South Wales and raised on Anglesey, Mr ap Iorwerth is a former journalist with BBC Cymru Wales and first entered the Senedd in 2013 after winning a by-election in Ynys Môn. He became leader of Plaid Cymru in 2023 following the resignation of Adam Price.
Speaking after the vote, Mr ap Iorwerth described becoming First Minister as “the greatest privilege” of his life and pledged to govern “for everyone in every community” across Wales.
Plaid Cymru emerged as the largest party in last week’s election with 43 seats in the expanded 96-member Senedd, ahead of Reform UK on 34 seats and Labour on just nine — one of the worst results in Welsh Labour history.
Mr ap Iorwerth is expected to begin unveiling his cabinet in the coming days as Plaid Cymru prepares to form a minority government.
