Rhun ap Iorwerth Promises Fairness and Ambition if Elected First Minister
Rhun ap Iorwerth has pledged "fairness" and "ambition" as part of a "new leadership" approach Plaid Cymru intends to offer, ahead of the launch of the party's manifesto.
The party is expected to outline its "bold" vision for a "fairer, more ambitious" Wales at an event in Wrexham on Thursday.
"Wales is a nation with enormous potential but what is missing is a government with the ambition and the plan to realise it," said Rhun ap Iorwerth, leader of Plaid Cymru.
Wales will vote in the Senedd election on 7 May. Current opinion polls suggest Plaid Cymru is more likely than any other party to be in a position to form a government, whether as a minority administration or in coalition with another party.
Key Priorities Defining a Plaid Cymru Government
According to the party, the priorities that "will define a Plaid Cymru government" include:
- Reducing waiting times in the health service;
- Supporting families with childcare costs;
- Unlocking the full potential of the Welsh economy;
- Securing a fairer deal from Westminster.
The party also promises to detail its longer-term plans for the Welsh economy, such as increasing the proportion of Welsh businesses used in public procurement processes.
"Plaid Cymru's plan is about building a country where public services work, where families are supported, and where everyone has the opportunity to build a good life," said Rhun ap Iorwerth.
'A New Path'
He added:
"We will take action where it is needed most – cutting waiting times in the health service, supporting parents with childcare costs, raising standards in our schools, and growing a stronger Welsh economy that works for our communities."
However, he noted that it is "more than just addressing what isn’t working," promising "a confident Wales, standing on its own feet, ready to succeed."
"This election is a turning point. We can continue with more of the same, or we can choose a new path for our nation."
Voting Information and Electoral Context
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Opinion polls indicate that Plaid Cymru is competing closely with Reform to finish first in the Senedd election.
Plaid Cymru has never won a Senedd election but has supported Labour governments in the past.
The party has stated its hope to win enough seats to form a minority government – governing independently but with support from other parties to pass legislation in the Senedd.
No party has previously won more than half the seats in the Senedd, but the new more proportional system makes it increasingly difficult to secure a majority.
Welsh voters will elect 96 Members of the Senedd this year, an increase from the previous 60, under the new proportional representation system.
All constituencies are changing as well, with 16 constituencies each electing six members.
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