Llywydd of the Senedd

Template:Short description Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox Political post The (), or Presiding Officer in English, is the speaker of the Senedd in Wales, elected by members of the Senedd to chair their meetings (plenary sessions); to maintain order; and to protect the rights of Members.

The also heads the Corporate Body (known as the Senedd Commission) and as such is viewed as a figurehead for the entire organisation. One Deputy Presiding Officer (Template:Langx) is also elected to help fulfil the role. The office of the is based in and is also responsible for the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay. In their roles, neither the nor the Deputy Presiding Officer () are allowed to participate in votes, except where legislation requires those votes to be passed by two-thirds of Members.

Role of the

The main function is to chair plenary sessions of the , 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.

The is also responsible for Standing Orders and is the final authority on their interpretation. The also acts as Chair of the Senedd 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 (), they are politically responsible for all aspects of the Presiding Office to which the Standing Orders relate.

The chairs meetings of the Panel of Subject Committee Chairs, where committee procedures and matters affecting Committee business are discussed. In addition to this, the acts as the ambassador for the , attending speakers' conferences and other events in order to publicise and raise the profile of the .

Llywydd's Committee

The role of the Llywydd's committee is to scrutinise the financial estimates of the Electoral Commission, as relates to devolved elections and referendums. It is typically chaired by the Dirprwy Lywydd, currently David Rees.

List of and Deputy Presiding Officers

Current and Deputy Presiding Officer

Position	Current holder			Term started	Political party	Constituency
(Presiding Officer)	style="background-color: Template:Party color" |	Elin Jones MS	File:Elin-jones (cropped).jpg	11 May 2016	Plaid Cymru	Ceredigion
Deputy Presiding Officer ()	style="background-color: Template:Party color" |	David Rees MS	File:David Rees AM (28170813895).jpg	12 May 2021	Labour	Aberavon

List of Llywyddion (Presiding Officers)

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Lord Elis-Thomas AM	File:Dafydd Elis-Thomas 2016.png	12 May 1999	11 May 2011	Plaid Cymru	Elected unopposed 1999, re-elected unopposed 2003 and 2007
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Dame Rosemary Butler AM	File:Rosemary Butler - National Assembly for Wales.jpg	11 May 2011	11 May 2016	Labour	Elected unopposed 2011.
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Elin Jones MS	File:Elin-jones (cropped).jpg	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 Beat Russell George 35 votes to 25 for re-election on 12 May 2021.

List of Deputy Presiding Officers (Dirprwy Lywyddion)

Name		Picture	Entered office	Left office	Political party	Notes
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Jane Davidson AM	File:Jane Davidson.jpg	12 May 1999	17 October 2000	Labour	First Assembly. Elected unopposed. Resigned from post when she became a Government Minister.
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	John Marek AM	File:John Marek.jpg	19 October 2000	7 May 2003	Labour	Remainder of the first Assembly Beat Rosemary Butler 28 votes to 27
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |			7 May 2003	9 May 2007	Forward Wales	Second Assembly. Beat Peter Law 30 votes to 29
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Rosemary Butler AM	File:Rosemary Butler - National Assembly for Wales.jpg	9 May 2007	11 May 2011	Labour	Third Assembly Elected unopposed
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	David Melding AM	File:David Melding AM.jpg	11 May 2011	11 May 2016	Conservative	Fourth Assembly Beat William Graham 46 votes to 12
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	Ann Jones MS	File:Ann Jones.jpg	11 May 2016	12 May 2021	Labour	Fifth Assembly Beat John Griffiths 30 votes to 29
style="background-color:Template:Party color" |	David Rees MS	File:David Rees AM (28170813895).jpg	12 May 2021	Incumbent	Labour	Sixth Senedd Beat Hefin David 35 votes to 24.

See also

• Senedd
• Senedd Commission
• Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament
• Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
• Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)
• Lord Speaker

External links

• Office of the Llywydd