Dafydd Wigley retired as Plaid Cymru president in 2000

Former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley has called on one of his party's top AMs not to weaken Plaid's position in the Welsh Assembly by taking up a key administrative post.

Leading Plaid member Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who represents Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, has been the assembly's presiding officer since 1999.

But, after the party suffered significant losses in last week's election, Mr Wigley suggested the veteran politician should not continue in the role.

Speaking on BBC Wales, Mr Wigley said the party - which won 12 seats in the assembly compared to its previous tally of 17 - now needed Lord Elis-Thomas on its front benches.

He added that Plaid must regroup quickly - but he refused to enter the debate as to whether current leader Ieuan Wyn Jones should be replaced.

While Plaid politicians ponder these two issues, Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan faces his own dilemma - whether to form a coalition government or to run the assembly from a position of controlling 30 out of the 60 seats.

Dafydd Elis-Thomas has been the Presiding Officer since 1999

Mr Morgan's decision would be made significantly easier if the Presiding Officer were to come from outside the Labour party - giving them an effective majority.

But Mr Wigley said it was not Plaid's job to "prop up" Rhodri Morgan's administration.

"I believe we need all the talent we have as a party working for the party in the assembly," he said.

"Dafydd Elis-Thomas is one of the best communicators that we have and he has the ability and imagination to catch people's minds.

"He also has strengths in a couple of portfolio areas and is also somebody who has a profile in the old coalfield area from the days of the strike where he took a very leading role."

Lord Elis-Thomas has declined to comment about Mr Wigley's remarks.

Leadership change?

Speaking about the elections, Mr Wigley said Plaid had failed to get its own voters to turn out.

He said the situation needed to be turned around very quickly - before the 2004 elections for local authorities and the European Parliament.

"By around September, Plaid Cymru needs to be firing on all cylinders in a way that is going to inspire people to come out and vote," he said.

However, he refused to criticise the party's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones.

There has been speculation that Ieuan Wyn Jones, who took over as party president from former Caernarfon AM and MP Dafydd Wigley in 2000, could face a leadership challenge.

Mr Jones has issued a defiant statement that he would not stand down.