Wales, Cardiff: Eluned Morgan has been sworn in as the new First Minister of Wales, marking her as the first woman to lead the country. She succeeds Vaughan Gething, who served less than 140 days amid controversy and internal strife. Morgan was confirmed as the leader of the Welsh Labour Party on July 24 but required a vote in the Senedd to officially assume the role. The Welsh Parliament was recalled from its summer break to facilitate this process.

Morgan, who was previously the health minister, won the position with 28 votes, narrowly surpassing Gething’s total. Opposition parties, including Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives, nominated their own candidates, but none had enough support to challenge her effectively. Jane Dodds of the Liberal Democrats abstained from voting, maintaining her previous support for Gething.

In her acceptance speech, Morgan acknowledged the difficulties faced by Welsh Labour and pledged to focus on unity and addressing the needs of the Welsh people. She also announced Huw Irranca-Davies as her deputy first minister. Opposition leaders expressed concerns about the impact of frequent leadership changes on government effectiveness and questioned Morgan about key issues such as council tax revaluation and the health service.

Morgan’s appointment comes at a challenging time for Welsh Labour, with her predecessors facing significant issues and resignations. Despite the turbulent circumstances, Morgan expressed pride in her historic achievement and a commitment to making a positive impact.