The incoming First Minister of Wales, Vaughan Gething, announced that he is "honored" to become the first black leader in Europe after being elected on Saturday to head the Labour Party in Wales, which has been in power for 25 years in Cardiff. Gething, who was born in Zambia to a Welsh father and a Zambian mother, expressed that he is "honored to become the first black leader of a European country" and spoke about a "new chapter" in the history of Wales.
Keir Starmer, leader of the UK Labour Party and the frontrunner for the upcoming general elections expected by January 2025 in the UK, extended his "sincere congratulations" to Gething via the social media platform X. Starmer stated that Gething's appointment as First Minister of Wales and the first black British leader would be a historic moment showcasing the progress and values of modern Wales.
In Wales, the local government is responsible for various issues such as health, education, and transport. Vaughan Gething was elected as the new leader of the Labour Party in Wales during an internal party vote, winning 51.7% of the votes against Education Minister Jeremy Miles. Only Labour Party members and some affiliated union members participated in the voting process, totaling about 100,000 people out of a population of approximately three million.
An investigation presented by the BBC impacted Gething's campaign, revealing that he recently received £200,000 (approximately €234,000) in donations from the company Atlantic Recycling, which is facing legal action for environmental violations. In 2016, Gething requested that the government's environmental agency ease restrictions on the company. Gething denied any connection to this matter, affirming that the donations align with the rules of the Welsh National Assembly.
