Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth: From party disarray to brink of power

Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth: From party disarray to brink of power9 May 2026ShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleAdrian BrowneWales political reporterPA MediaRhun ap Iorwerth sought to present the election campaign as a moment for renewalAbout 100 years after Plaid Cymru was founded, and after roughly a century of Labour dominance in Wales, one political era draws to a close, and another begins.There is a certain symmetry to the moment. As Labour's long hold on power ends, a Plaid Cymru leader stands poised to become first minister for the first time, after a highly successful Welsh election performance.It marks a remarkable turnaround from three years ago, when Rhun ap Iorwerth inherited a party in disarray. A scathing report into misogyny, harassment and bullying within Plaid had forced the resignation of his predecessor, Adam Price, leaving the party facing a crisis of confidence and credibility.So what do we know about the man expected to become Wales' seventh first minister?Who is Rhun ap Iorwerth?Let's start with the name.Rhun ap Iorwerth literally means Rhun, son of Iorwerth - Iorwerth being a Welsh form of Edward.The 53-year-old was born in Tonteg, near Pontypridd, in south-east Wales, but grew up in the north-west of the country. He spent his earliest years in Meirionnydd before moving to the island of Anglesey - Ynys Môn in Welsh - at the age of five.How do you pronounce Rhun ap Iorwerth?His parents were steeped in Welsh culture and public life. His father was a teacher, prominent singer and composer, and an active campaigner for Plaid Cymru - translated as Party of Wales - the Welsh language and Welsh culture. His mother was also a teacher and went on to become president of several organisations promoting the Welsh language."Politics was all around me," ap Iorwerth told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast, recalling how, as a toddler, he would amuse himself by piling up Plaid Cymru leaflets.After studying in Cardiff, h...