Plaid Cymru’s Shock Win: Separatists Take Power in Wales for the First Time in 100 Years

In a historic political earthquake, Plaid Cymru—the party calling for Welsh independence from the United Kingdom—is set to form the next Welsh government for the first time in its century-long history. On Saturday, a jubilant crowd of supporters gathered outside the Senedd, the Welsh parliament, to welcome the party's 43 newly elected members, with some lawmakers reduced to tears as the crowd sang the Welsh national anthem alongside them [146212].

This victory makes Wales’s highest-ranking political representative a member of a party committed to breaking away from the UK, putting Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party in a deeply precarious position. If Labour refuses to grant more powers to Plaid Cymru, analysts warn it could accelerate the ruling party’s own decline [146212]. One journalist described the scene as unlike anything seen before in Welsh politics [146212].

The victory comes amid a broader global populist wave, with international media noting how former U.S. President Donald Trump’s political style has inspired right-wing leaders across continents—reshaping mainstream politics from Europe to Australia [146112]. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Supreme Court has opened the door to intensified partisan gerrymandering, ruling that while districts cannot be drawn based on race, states may shape them for partisan advantage—triggering a rush to redraw voting maps across several states [145558].

In South Korea, the race for Seoul’s next mayor has transformed into a national proxy war between President Yoon Suk Yeol and his main rival, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. Observers say local elections are increasingly used as a barometer for national figures, and the Seoul outcome will be seen as a major public verdict on both leaders years before the next presidential vote [111654]. Similarly, in Israel, the upcoming October election is shaping up as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s promise of security after the October 7, 2023 attacks, though many Israelis question whether any election can end the nation’s "forever wars" [145926].

In the U.S., Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fueled speculation about a 2028 presidential run, refusing to deny the possibility at a Chicago forum. When asked directly, she replied, "My ambition is to change the country" [144959]. The comment has ignited debate over whether she is positioning for the White House or a challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer [144959].