Let's Get Ready to Rumble!

Many people, both supporters and opponents of Plaid, will be watching with interest the nationalists' internal election of a "Llywydd" (President). Since the job was split from Assembly Leader in 2003 the role has been held by folk-singer/businessman/ex-councillor Dafydd Iwan. This is a position that has been held by Gwynfor Evans as well as the "three Dafydd's of Plaid" (Iwan, the Lord and the Lord-to-be) but since Plaid put an end to their triple-leader mess and installed Ieuan Wyn as the Party leader the role is seriously downgraded.

From what I understand the role is now as leader of the voluntary wing, something that you would expect Dafydd Iwan to be quite good at - his strength has always seemed to be his ability to motivate the masses. But after the recent council elections, where Dafydd Iwan seemed to ave motivated the masses (or at least some of the masses) to vote for the "anyone but Plaid" Llais Gwynedd - his position has been in doubt. He now has a challenger for the role, Plaid's Parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd. Plaid's internal rules forces an election for the post every now and then, and that's what they're going to have now.

Who will win? Elfyn Llwyd has managed to avoid controversy and slip-ups throughout his career but it's fair to say that to a lot of people he seems, well, boring! there's also questions about him sharing the workload between being an MP, parliamentary leader and president. On the other hand while Dafydd Iwan can never be written off as boring and has plenty of time on his hands since May, but he's carrying a lot of baggage.

Elfyn Llwyd has the support of SNP leader Alex Salmond, who has said

"Elfyn is a politician who combines passion and commitment with a thorough knowledge of the parliamentary process… I’ve worked closely with him during my time at Westminster and I know he has always had the best interest of Wales first and foremost in his mind. I am proud to call him a colleague and also a friend.”

but who will have the support of the Plaid members? I do not have the fainest of ideas, but there's no doubt that Labour for one will be looking at the fight very closely, hoping for a long bitter fight to put a bit of a prang in the Plaid bubble.