This article is about the office. For the current holder, see Vaughan Gething. For a list of Welsh first ministers, see List of first ministers of Wales.
First Minister of Wales
Prif Weinidog Cymru(Welsh)
Logo
Flag of Wales
Incumbent Vaughan Gething since 20 March 2024 (2024-03-20)
Welsh Government Welsh Cabinet Senedd
Style
First Minister (informal) The Right Honourable (UK and Commonwealth) His Excellency (international)
Status
Head of Government
Abbreviation
FM
Member of
Senedd
Welsh Cabinet
Privy Council
British-Irish Council
PM and Heads of Devolved Governments Council
Reports to
Senedd
Seat
Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff
Nominator
Senedd
Appointer
The Monarch
Term length
Five years
Formation
12 May 1999
First holder
Alun Michael AM
Salary
£148,575 per annum (2022)[1] (including £67,920 MS salary)
Website
www.gov.wales/vaughan-gething-ms
This article is part of a series within the Politics of the United Kingdom on the
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Pierhead Building)
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The First Minister of Wales (Welsh: Prif Weinidog Cymru), known as First Secretary of Wales from 1999 until 2000, is the leader of the Welsh Government and keeper of the Welsh Seal. The first minister chairs the Welsh Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Welsh Government policy. Additional functions of the first minister include promoting and representing Wales in an official capacity, at home and abroad, and responsibility for constitutional affairs, as they relate to devolution and the Welsh Government.
The first minister is a Member of the Senedd, and is nominated by the Senedd (Welsh Parliament; Welsh: Senedd Cymru)—before being officially appointed by the Monarch. Members of the Welsh Cabinet and junior ministers of the Welsh Government, as well as law officers, are appointed by the first minister. As head of the Welsh Government, the first minister is directly accountable to the Senedd for their actions and the actions of the Welsh Government. The main office of the first minister is in Tŷ Hywel, which is adjacent to the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.[2] An additional office is also kept at the Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff which is the headquarters of the Welsh Government.
In December 2023, Drakeford announced his intention to stand down, and remained in the position until he was replaced by Vaughan Gething on 20 March 2024, as a result of the Welsh Labour leadership election.[3][4][5]
^"Determination on Members' Pay and Allowances: 2022-2023" (PDF). Senedd Cymru. 9 April 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
^"Tŷ Hywel". senedd.wales. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
^"Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford resigns". BBC News. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
^"Vaughan Gething to become next first minister of Wales after winning Welsh Labour leadership race". Sky News. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
^https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/13746
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