Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Former Plaid Cymru Leader and Senedd's First Presiding Officer, Dies at 78

The influential Welsh politician and 'founding father' of the Senedd passed away peacefully after a short illness.

Dafydd Elis-Thomas led Plaid Cymru from 1984 to 1991 and played a pivotal role in shaping Welsh devolution.
He served as the inaugural presiding officer of the Welsh Assembly (now Senedd) from 1999 to 2011, establishing its democratic foundations.
Elis-Thomas was a pragmatic nationalist, focusing on practical governance and rejecting extremist approaches to Welsh identity and language issues.
He left Plaid Cymru in 2016, later serving as an independent in the Senedd and as a minister in Labour-led Welsh governments until 2021.
Tributes from across the political spectrum highlighted his significant contributions to Welsh politics, culture, and civic life.