Party legacy: Dafydd Wigley

The AM and MP for Ynys M�n received 77% of the votes cast - a total of 4,834.

Voting had taken place at party branches across Wales over the last 10 days with every party member getting a vote to decide who should succeed Dafydd Wigley, who is retiring on health grounds.

Ynys M�n AM Ieuan Wyn Jones was always seen as the clear front runner. His rivals Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones won 798 votes (13%) with MEP Jill Evans getting 598 (10%).

In his acceptance speech, Mr Jones said he now intent on modernising the party from "top to bottom".

"The priority for now must be to ensure that Wales gets the same powers as Scotland and we must ensure the broadest possible base of support for realising this aim," he said.

He added that it was a time for the party to look forward to prepare for the biggest challenge "to become a party that the people of Wales will trust as their party of government".

"That work must begin today," he said. "The highest tribute we can pay to our predecessors is to enable the party to achieve its aim of governing our country."

Llanelli AM Helen Mary Jones

Commenting on the announcement, National Convenor of the Scottish National Party Mr Alex Salmond MSP said Wales would benefit from the "Ieuan Wyn Jones experience".

""Ever since we were both elected to the House of Commons in 1987 I have worked closely with Ieuan and I value his experience and principle in fighting for Wales.

"Dafydd has left a great legacy and I am certain that Plaid Cymru and the SNP will continue to go from strength to strength."

Born in Denbigh, north Wales in 1949, Mr Jones was educated at Pontardawe Grammar School before moving onto Liverpool Polytechnic and qualifying as a solicitor in 1973.

Two years later, he was made the vice chair of Plaid Cymru. By 1980 he had become the national chair from 1980 to 198s and again for two years in 1990.

He stood as prospective Parliamentary candidate for the Denbighshire West constituency in October 1974 and 1979, finally winning a seat for Ynys M�n in 1987.

MEP Jill Evans

A Governor of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy which assists in the development of democratic institutions in Eastern Europe and other countries throughout the world, he was elected Assembly member for Ynys M�n in May 1999.

During the Assembly elections, he gained the constituency's biggest majority in the 20th century.

Then in December 1999, he was given the opportunity to hone his leadership skills for the future when he was made the party's acting Assembly leader for three months as Dafydd Wigley underwent heart surgery.