Vaughan Gething, the historic first Black person to lead a national government in Europe, stepped down as the first minister of Wales on Tuesday, following a controversy surrounding campaign donations. Gething, a member of the Labour Party, took office in March as the head of the Welsh Parliament, known as the Senedd.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, Gething decided to resign, stating in a written announcement that the accusations against him were unfounded and politically motivated. He emphasized his commitment to integrity, asserting that he had never made decisions for personal gain during his 11-year tenure as a lawmaker.
Wales, a constituent country of the United Kingdom with its own devolved government, faced a period of uncertainty after Gething’s predecessor, Mark Drakeford, resigned. Gething won a closely contested leadership election within the Labour Party to become the first minister.
However, a recent vote of no confidence in the Welsh Parliament revealed concerns about donations made to Gething’s leadership campaign by a company linked to an individual with a criminal record for environmental offenses. Subsequently, four members of Gething’s government resigned, casting doubt on his leadership and leading to his resignation.
