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

22 Oct 2021 1 minute read
The First Minister’s changed Twitter handle

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.


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Ann Corkett
Ann Corkett
2 years ago

Da iawn!

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
2 years ago

Reminded of someone saying the Welsh handle for a Chief Constable was #PrifCopyn
(a play on the Welsh words for a spider)

Welsh_Sion
Welsh_Sion
2 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

It’s the Enw yng Ngorsedd of the ex Chief Constable of Gogledd Cymru – Richard Brunstrom.

As a fellow Gorsedd Member, I’ve always been tempted to ask him:

“Sgynnoch chi le ar y we? / Have you got a site on the WEb?”

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Welsh_Sion

Gwych! Falch i wybod nad wedi dychmygu’r peth oeddwn!

Hannergylch
Hannergylch
2 years ago

Prif Weinidog y Deyrnas Unedig will be so disappointed that Mark beat him to the @PrifWeinidog handle. Bad luck, Boris!

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago
Reply to  Hannergylch

Dwi’n meddwl “PrifTwyllwr” neu “Tadanwireddau” ar gael i Boris o hyd

Welsh_Sion
Welsh_Sion
2 years ago
Reply to  Hannergylch

Ditto for Starmer!

No love lost between him and Mark Drakeford, I don’t think.

Dafydd
Dafydd
2 years ago

Tywysog would be better

defaid
defaid
2 years ago
Reply to  Dafydd

That title has been put by for Michael Sheen…

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago
Reply to  Dafydd

Don’t need any of that “noble title” nonsense. Stick to elected offices within a democratic framework.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
2 years ago

That’s also actually a good photo of the Priweinidog

Shan Morgain
2 years ago

Prif Weinidog means First Servant see GPC

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