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The First Minister () is the leader of the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales's devolved administration. When initially set up under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the title was known as First Secretary (in Welsh Prif Ysgrifennydd), as Wales was given a less powerful assembly and executive than Northern Ireland and Scotland. This was also attributed to the fact that the Welsh term for First Minister, Prif Weinidog, also translates as Prime Minister, so a different title was chosen to avoid confusion with the UK Prime Minister.
This change of title occurred after the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with Labour in the Welsh Assembly in October 2000. The change of title has no effect in law - as the post of First Secretary is established in statute law under the 1998 Government of Wales Act.
The Government of Wales Bill, which is currently going through the Parliament of the United Kingdom, allows for the post to be officially the First Minister and would also make the First Minister the Keeper of the Welsh Seal.
First Secretary
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alun Michael | May 12, 1999 | February 9, 2000 | Lab |
| Rhodri Morgan (acting) | February 9, 2000 | February 15, 2000 | Lab | |
| 2. | Rhodri Morgan | February 15, 2000 | October 16, 2000 | Lab |
First Minister
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rhodri Morgan | October 16, 2000 | present | Lab |
Deputy First Minister
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Michael German | October 16, 2000 | July 6, 2001 | Lib Dem |
| Jenny Randerson (acting) | July 6, 2001 | June 13, 2002 | Lib Dem | |
| 2. | Michael German | June 13, 2002 | May 8, 2003 | Lib Dem |
Sources
- Dates are from World Statesmen and various BBC News Online articles from 1999 to 2003.
Politics of Wales | Government of Wales | First Ministers of Wales
"First Minister for Wales"