SENEDD members voted today to make Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth the next first minister of Wales.

Before he is officially confirmed as first minister, the Senedd’s presiding officer Huw Irranca-Davies will write to the King recommending he is officially appointed.

Mr ap Iorwerth has said he will seek to form a minority government after his party secured the largest bloc in the election, falling short of a majority with 43 members of the Senedd (MSs).

His nomination for appointment as first minister was supported by the two Wales Green Party MSs.

“This is the greatest privilege of my life to become first minister of my nation and I am eager to repay the trust shown in my party,” Mr ap Iorwerth said.

“Something has stirred in the soul of Wales — a new confidence, a new hope, a new broader horizon, never to be narrowed again by the naysayers with other priorities in other places.

“From this historic moment onwards, every person in every part of our nation can know that the government of Wales is their government.”

The TUC Cymru general council said it looked forward to working constructively with the next Welsh government.

“We will continue to ensure that the voice of working people is clearly represented within government,” a statement said.

“Our campaign for a United Cymru remains a priority, and we are committed to listening to and engaging with workers across the nation to help build a better future.

“People deserve a government that delivers for them, and we are ready to work constructively with the incoming administration to achieve this.”

Unison Cymru regional secretary Jess Turner said: “Plaid Cymru made manifesto commitments that align closely with priorities public service workers have been raising for years.

“Those promises must now become action that’s properly funded and Unison Cymru will work constructively with the new government through social partnership.

“But public service workers will judge this Senedd on delivery. The new government must now quickly turn manifesto commitments into action.”

NAHT Cymru’s Laura Doel congratulated Mr ap Iorwerth but warned that his government had to take action to deliver more funding to schools.

“Schools will need significantly more investment, with many facing severe financial pressures which hamper their ability to deliver the education young people deserve,” Ms Doel said.