| Llywydd of the Senedd | |
|---|---|
| Llywydd Senedd Cymru | |
.jpg) | |
| Senedd | |
| Style | Llywydd (within Parliament) The Right Honourable (formal) |
| Appointer | Senedd (elected by) |
| Term length | No limits imposed |
| Inaugural holder | Dafydd Elis-Thomas 12 May 1999 |
| Formation | 1999 |
| Unofficial names | Presiding Officer of the Senedd Llywydd / Presiding Officer of the Welsh Parliament |
| Website | https://senedd.wales/senedd-business/llywydd/ |
TheLlywydd (Welsh:[ˈɬəu̯.ɪð]), orPresiding Officer in English, is thespeaker of theSenedd in Wales, elected bymembers of the Senedd tochair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.
TheLlywydd also heads the Corporate Body (known as theSenedd Commission) and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. OneDeputy Presiding Officer[1] (Welsh:Dirprwy Lywydd) is also elected to help fulfil the role. The office of theLlywydd is based inTŷ Hywel and is also responsible for thePierhead Building inCardiff Bay. In their roles, neither theLlywydd nor the Deputy Presiding Officer (Dirprwy Lywydd) are allowed to participate inSenedd votes, except where legislation requires those votes to be passed by two-thirds of Members.[2]
The main function is to chair plenary sessions of theSenedd, to maintain order and to protect the rights of Members. They are responsible for ensuring that business is handled on the basis of equality and impartiality.
TheLlywydd is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. TheLlywydd also acts as Chair of theSenedd Commission, and has special responsibility for promoting democratic engagement, leadership, developing the Senedd's future legislative powers and external relations
Along with the Deputy Presiding Officer (Dirprwy Lywydd), they are politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.
TheLlywydd chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, theLlywydd acts as the ambassador for theSenedd, attending speakers' conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of theSenedd.
The role of the Llywydd's committee is to scrutinise the financial estimates of theElectoral Commission, as relates to devolved elections and referendums. It is typically chaired by the Dirprwy Lywydd, currentlyDavid Rees.[3]
| Position | Current holder | Term started | Political party | Constituency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Llywydd (Presiding Officer) | Elin JonesMS | | 11 May 2016 | Plaid Cymru | Ceredigion | |
| Deputy Presiding Officer (Dirprwy Lywydd) | David ReesMS | .jpg) | 12 May 2021 | Labour | Aberavon | |
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Lord Elis-ThomasAM |  | 12 May 1999 | 11 May 2011 | Plaid Cymru | Elected unopposed 1999,[4] re-elected unopposed 2003 and 2007 | |
| Dame Rosemary ButlerAM |  | 11 May 2011 | 11 May 2016 | Labour | Elected unopposed 2011.[5] | |
| Elin JonesMS | | 11 May 2016 | Incumbent | Plaid Cymru | Elected 2016, re-elected 2021. Beat Dafydd Elis-Thomas 34 votes to 25 with 1 abstention on 11 May 2016[6] | |
| Name | Picture | Entered office | Left office | Political party | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane DavidsonAM |  | 12 May 1999 | 17 October 2000 | Labour | First Assembly. Elected unopposed.[4] Resigned from post when she became a Government Minister. | |
| John MarekAM |  | 19 October 2000 | 7 May 2003 | Labour | Remainder of the first Assembly Beat Rosemary Butler 28 votes to 27[7] | |
| 7 May 2003 | 9 May 2007 | Forward Wales | Second Assembly. Beat Peter Law 30 votes to 29[8] | |||
| Rosemary ButlerAM | | 9 May 2007 | 11 May 2011 | Labour | Third Assembly Elected unopposed[9] | |
| David MeldingAM |  | 11 May 2011 | 11 May 2016 | Conservative | Fourth Assembly Beat William Graham 46 votes to 12[5] | |
| Ann JonesMS |  | 11 May 2016 | 12 May 2021 | Labour | Fifth Assembly Beat John Griffiths 30 votes to 29[6] | |
| David ReesMS | | 12 May 2021 | Incumbent | Labour | Sixth Senedd Beat Hefin David 35 votes to 24. | |
