Llyr Gruffydd has been confirmed as interim leader of Plaid Cymru by the party’s National Council.
The North Wales Member of the Senedd (MS), who will formally take over from Adam Price on Wednesday, said it was an “immense honour”.
He will stay on until Plaid elects a new leader, and candidates have a month to put their nominations forward.
Mr Price resigned last week after a report alleged a culture of bullying, harassment and misogyny in the party.
Mr Gruffydd, who was nominated by the Plaid Senedd group of politicians on Thursday, has been MS for the North Wales region since 2011.
The 52-year-old began his career as a youth worker, and had worked as a management consultant for the National Trust before heading to Cardiff Bay.
As interim leader he is ineligible to stand in the upcoming leadership contest.
Plaid confirmed that candidates will have until 16 June to submit nominations. The timetable for the election is yet to be set, although the party said the new leader will be in place by the summer.
Mr Gruffydd was ratified at a meeting of the national council, which is made up of elected officials from the Senedd and Westminster, representatives of local government and the party’s voluntary wing.
BBC Wales was told that he was backed unanimously.
Mr Gruffydd said after the meeting: “Accelerating the pace of reform will be the priority for the political, professional, and voluntary wing of the party.
“By doing this we can renew our purpose, delivering the key aspects of our manifesto through the co-operation agreement [with the Labour Welsh government], offering solutions when Wales’ interests aren’t being served and working harder than ever to protect our communities.”
Dr Dewi Evans, a member of Plaid who stood to be party chair four years ago, said its national executive should have acted sooner to deal with issues highlighted in the report.
“Their failure to act has been responsible for what’s been happening over the last few weeks,” he told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.
He said that “corporatism has taken over in the party, particularly at Cardiff Bay”.
“The party needs to do far more to engage with its membership… it has been ignored far too much for a long, long time.
“This is a wake-up call for the party.”
Dr Evans was a supporter of former Plaid politician Neil McEvoy, who was expelled over allegations of disruptive behaviour at a party conference.
At the time he stood for chairman Dr Evans said he wanted Mr McEvoy’s membership to be reinstated.
What is the National Council?
Plaid’s National Council between the party’s leading authority – national conference – and the national executive, which meets more regularly.
The constitution of the party says that if something extraordinary happens in the party, the executive decides what to do and seeks the approval of the council.
It meets only three or four times a year, and Saturday is expected to be a rubber-stamping exercise.
But it is where senior figures can take the temperature of the party, and where members – behind closed doors – feel more free to express their views out of the glare of cameras.
It is convened when big decisions are needed, like in 2007 to agree a coalition with Labour.
In theory hundreds of people are eligible to go, but BBC Wales has been told that, usually, about 100 show up.
There are representatives of local government, elected MSs and MPs, every member of the national executive and representatives of every constituency, as well as party groups such as the women’s section.
Source – BBC News
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