Eluned Morgan has been sworn in as Wales’ first female leader on Tuesday, succeeding Vaughan Gething, who held the position for only four months.
Morgan, 57, assumed the role of the new Welsh Labour leader last month, positioning her as the party’s candidate for the first minister of Wales.
Lawmakers in the Senedd confirmed her nomination after being called back from recess.
Gething, who made history as the first black leader of a European government when elected in March, resigned last month following a series of controversies.
Keir Starmer, the UK Labour Party leader, hailed Morgan’s election in Wales as “fantastic news,” praising her wealth of experience and track record of delivery.
Morgan, a member of the Senedd since 2016, served in the European Union parliament from 1994 to 2016 and positioned herself as a “unity candidate.”
Welsh Labour had experienced division, particularly after Gething’s controversies, leading to his resignation. All other potential candidates in the party leadership race rallied behind Morgan.
In a speech to members of the Senedd, Morgan said she looked forward to the day when a “woman becoming first minister is no longer extraordinary but a normal part of our Welsh political life”.
She added, “the greatest honour of my life to stand before you today as the first woman to become the first minister of Wales”.
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