Once the votes are counted and 96 Members have been elected to the Senedd, they must choose a new First Minister.
How does the process work? Let’s take a look.
When is the First Minister chosen?
Once a new Presiding Officer has been elected, one of their first tasks is to oversee the nomination of a First Minister. This usually happens in the first Plenary meeting after the election, but could happen at the second.
How does nomination happen?
Members of the Senedd gather in the Chamber. The Presiding Officer asks for nominations for First Minister from Members of the Senedd. Any Member of the Senedd can nominate another to be First Minister, and Members may nominate themselves. They usually nominate party leaders.
If only one Member is put forward
That person becomes the Senedd’s “nominee” for First Minister.
If more than one Member is put forward
All the Members of the Senedd are asked to vote for their preferred nominee by roll call, in alphabetical order. The Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer cannot vote.
If two Members are nominated
The person with the most votes becomes the nominee. If there is a tie then another vote is taken.
If more than two Members are nominated
The Presiding Officer will ask Members to vote by roll call for their preferred candidate.
To become the nominee, a candidate must get more votes than all the other candidates combined.
If no one does, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and another vote takes place.
This continues until one candidate receives more votes than the total cast for all the other candidates.
What happens if no one is nominated?
Members must choose a First Minister to lead the Welsh Government within 28 days of a Senedd election (by 3 June 2026). If this doesn’t happen the Senedd will be dissolved and another election will take place.
The final step: the new First Minister is appointed by HM the King
When the Senedd has chosen a nominee, the Presiding Officer will write to the King recommending they are officially appointed as First Minister.
Once appointed the new First Minister will select up to seventeen Cabinet Secretaries and Welsh Ministers to form the Welsh Government.
Find out more: What happens after a Senedd election?
