By: Kevin  Wang

Eluned Morgan is on the path to becoming the next first minister of Wales and the first female leader of the country. On July 24th, she was chosen to lead the Labour Party in Wales after no one stood against her in the election. The leader of the party with the most elected members serves as the next first minister, and currently, the Labour Party has the most elected members. Vaughan Gething, the current first minister, declared that he is resigning from the position of first minister after four members of his government quit, setting Morgan on track to replace him.

However, Eluned Morgan won’t be replacing Vaughan Gething until the Senedd Cymru, the Welsh Parliament, starts work again after a summer break. Morgan said in a statement, “I am truly honoured to become the first woman to lead Welsh Labour and to be put forward as our party’s nominee to become the next first minister of Wales.” For most of her working life, Morgan has been a politician. After going to the University of Hull in England, she became the youngest member of the European Parliament at 27 years old. She had previously attempted to get elected as the leader of the Labour Party in 2018, but she was beaten by Mark Drakeford. Finally, following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, she became a health minister in 2021. With no contest taking place, Morgan has not yet created a plan for what she will do as first minister. According to BBC, Morgan has promised that she will listen to the people of Wales, saying they will “set the agenda for us.”

Vaughan Gething will stay on as the first minister until Eluned Morgan is confirmed in a vote by the Senedd. In order to bring the parliament back to confirm Morgan as first minister, the Senedd would require a request from the Welsh government. A roll call vote is required of all 60 members of the Senedd before the next first minister is confirmed. Every member of the Senedd has to say out loud who they think should be the next first minister.