Plaid Cymru won the Welsh Senedd election this month, becoming the largest party and preparing to form the next Welsh government.

The result represents a historic political shift in Wales. For the first time in roughly 100 years [2], the Labour Party has lost its long-standing control over the Senedd.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of the nationalist party, said he is ready to become first minister and form the next Welsh government [2]. The victory follows a trend of voters shifting away from Labour in the early May 2026 elections [2].

According to election results, Plaid Cymru secured 43 seats in the Senedd [3]. This seat count provides the party with the mandate necessary to lead the parliament in Cardiff.

The transition marks a departure from the political status quo that defined the region for a century. The party's rise suggests a growing appetite for nationalist policies over the traditional Labour platform, a change that will influence the direction of Welsh governance moving forward.

Ap Iorwerth's leadership will now focus on assembling a cabinet and outlining a legislative agenda. The process of forming the government begins immediately following the confirmation of the seat counts [3].

“Plaid Cymru won the Welsh Senedd election this month, becoming the largest party.”

The victory of Plaid Cymru signals a fundamental realignment of Welsh politics. By ending a century of Labour dominance, the electorate has shifted toward a nationalist platform, which may lead to increased pressure for greater autonomy or independence from the United Kingdom.