First Minister changes his Twitter handle to Welsh language ‘Prif Weinidog’

The First Minister has changed his Twitter handle from the English language @fmwales to the Welsh language @PrifWeinidog.

The switch was made in the last hour. The username @fmwales has been made ‘unavailable’ to anyone hoping to make the switch, suggesting that Twitter has retired it to make room for the still-verified @PrifWeinidog.

It suggests that the Prif Weinidog is hoping to normalise the use of his Welsh language title – which is a direct translation of Prime Minister rather than First Minister.

It follows the normalisation of the Welsh language name Senedd following the switch from Assembly / Cynulliad in May of last year.

The Welsh Government was still using the tag @fmwales as recently as three hours beforehand when tweeting about the visit of the Irish Consulate in Cardiff.

The Twitter handle has previously been passed from one Prif Weinidog to another, starting with Carwyn Jones who joined in September 2010 during his second year as leader of the Welsh Government.

The title Prif Weinidog / First Minister was first adopted by Rhodri Morgan in October 2000. His predecessor Alun Michael had been called Prif Ysgrifennydd / First Secretary.