First Minister of Wales

First Minister of Wales Prif Weinidog Cymru
Incumbent Carwyn Jones since 10 December 2009
Style	The Right Honourable
Appointer	Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Term length	While commanding the confidence of the National Assembly for Wales
Inaugural holder	Alun Michael
Formation	12 May 1999
Website	Website

The First Minister of Wales (Welsh: Prif Weinidog Cymru) is the leader of the Welsh Government, Wales' devolved administration, which was established in 1999. The First Minister is responsible for the exercise of functions by the Cabinet of the Welsh Government; policy development and coordination; relationships with the rest of the United Kingdom, Europe and Wales abroad; and staffing.

The official office of the First Minister is in Tŷ Hywel, previously known as Crickhowell House, and the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. An office is also kept at the Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff.

When initially set up under the Government of Wales Act 1998, the post was known as First Secretary for Wales (in Welsh Prif Ysgrifennydd Cymru), as Wales was given a less powerful assembly and executive than either Northern Ireland or Scotland. The choice of title was also attributed to the fact that the Welsh term for First Minister, Prif Weinidog, may also be translated as Prime Minister, so a different title was chosen to avoid confusion with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

A change of title occurred after the Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government with Labour in the Welsh Assembly in October 2000. The Government of Wales Act 2006 allowed for the post to be officially known as the First Minister and also made the First Minister Keeper of the Welsh Seal.