Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the party will form a minority government to lead Wales in a cooperative manner.

This shift in power represents a historic realignment of Welsh politics, significantly reducing the influence of the Labour Party while elevating the nationalist Plaid Cymru to the lead position in the Senedd.

In the 96-member Senedd, Plaid Cymru won 43 seats [1]. While this is the largest share of seats, the party remains six seats short of a full majority [1]. Consequently, ap Iorwerth intends to run a minority administration that works with other parties to pass legislation, and manage the government in Cardiff.

The election results saw a steep decline for the previous establishment. Labour was reduced to nine seats [1]. Speaking to Sky News, ap Iorwerth said the result was a "collapse that we could sense coming, that we could see coming".

Ap Iorwerth said the new administration would maintain a strong stance toward the central government in London. He said that no Prime Minister "can cast Wales aside".

The party's strategy for governing without a majority will rely on negotiation, and cooperation with the remaining members of the Welsh Parliament. By opting for a cooperative approach, Plaid Cymru seeks to maintain stability despite the lack of a clear mandate for a single-party majority.

“Plaid Cymru won 43 seats in the 96-member Senedd”

The transition to a Plaid Cymru-led minority government signals a move away from Labour's long-term dominance in Wales. Because the party lacks a majority, the Senedd will likely see increased legislative bargaining, making the support of smaller parties essential for the passage of any major policy or budget.