Politician Vaughan Gething was recently elected as the next first minister of Wales, making him the first Black leader in Europe.
After current sitting first minister Mark Drakeford resigns tomorrow, March 19, Gething, who is currently the Economy Minister for the country, will take his place leading Wales and will serve as the fifth first minister since 1999, when the legislature was first developed.
Part of the Labour Party, Gething narrowly beat Jeremy Miles, the current Education Minister, in the election, winning approximately 51.7% of the votes compared to Miles’s 48.3%.
“Today, we turn a page in the book of our nation’s history …. not just because I have the [honor] of becoming the first Black leader in any European country, but because the generational dial has jumped too,” said Gething, 50, in a public speech after the votes were announced per CNN. “Devolution is not something that I have had to get used to, or to adapt to, or to apologize for. Devolution, Welsh solutions to Welsh problems and opportunities is in my blood.”
I am honoured to have been elected Leader of our Welsh Labour Party.
— Vaughan Gething (@vaughangething) March 16, 2024
Mae’n anrhydedd i mi gael fy ethol yn arweinydd Llafur Cymru.
To Welsh Labour members, trade union colleagues, and every Labour representative in Wales — thank you for putting your trust in me.
Born in Zambia, Gething, the son of a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, studied law at Aberystwyth University and the University of Cardiff Law School.
While at Aberystwyth, he became the President of their University Guild of Students and became the first Black student to serve as the president of the National Union of Students Wales.
After graduating, Gething once again broke barriers as the youngest and first Black politician to serve as President of Wales TUC.
Throughout his career, he has helmed initiatives such as the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as Wales’ health minister.
During his time as economy minister, Gething also dealt with the response to company Tata Steel’s decision to close furnaces at plants, eliminating 2,800 jobs for Welsh employees.
With his newest position, he will now help put policies revolving around health, education, agriculture and the local government.
Although he was considered to be the main candidate most likely to win the race for First Minister, Gething’s campaign attracted attention when it was revealed that a recycling company found guilty of violating health and safety guidelines and committing environmental crimes donated $255,000 to him.
According to the new first minister, the donations were declared correctly following electoral guidelines.
“I am honoured to have been elected Leader of our Welsh Labour Party,” said Gething on social media following his election. “To Welsh Labour members, trade union colleagues, and every Labour representative in Wales- thank you for putting your trust in me.”
