Rhun ap Iorwerth Sworn In As First Minister of Wales

Why this is here: In a 1991 photograph, future first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth protested alongside Leanne Wood, who later led Plaid Cymru from 2012 to 2018.

Rhun ap Iorwerth became the first minister of Wales after being sworn in at Cathays Park in Cardiff. Photos show the Plaid Cymru leader stood on the same steps roughly 35 years after protesting there as a 19-year-old student.

In 1991, ap Iorwerth protested with Cymdeithas yr Iaith, advocating for a law to protect Welsh-speaking communities. Amateur photographer Chris Reynolds captured images of the protest, which have recently circulated on social media, gaining almost 60,000 views. The earlier images contrast sharply with Tuesday’s inauguration photos.

Leanne Wood, a former Plaid Cymru leader, also appears in one of the 1991 photos wearing a t-shirt with a slogan opposing the sale of Welsh land. The Welsh Office building, originally the Welsh Board of Health from the 1930s, has evolved with Welsh devolution. Ap Iorwerth’s parents were both teachers and long-time advocates for Welsh language and culture, shaping his early activism.

The photographs document a personal journey, but do not detail the specific policies ap Iorwerth will pursue as first minister. The work of governing Wales now begins.