In a historic moment for Wales, Vaughan Gething has been elected as the first Black First Minister of the country. Gething emerged victorious in a closely contested race to lead Wales’ Labour Party, securing 27 of 51 votes in the Welsh parliament.
The son of a Welsh father and Zambian mother, Gething proudly proclaims Wales as the first European nation to be led by a Black person. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized the importance of celebrating differences and working towards uniting the country.
However, Gething’s appointment still needs to be approved by King Charles III. If confirmed, he will join the ranks of nonwhite leaders in three of the U.K.’s four governments.
Prior to his election as First Minister, Gething served as the health minister during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the economy minister since 2021. He now takes over a government that often clashes with the Conservative administration in London and is currently facing protests over environmental regulations.
Gething’s leadership campaign was not without controversy, as he faced scrutiny over donations from a recycling company involved in environmental offenses and breaches of health and safety regulations. Despite this, he remains determined to lead Wales forward and create positive change for its citizens.
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