South Wales Evening Post - 8 May 2007
Swansea Lib Dem AM Peter Black has ruled himself out of the party's top job - at least for now.
The high-profile South Wales West AM ruffled feathers at the weekend by calling for Welsh Lib Dem leader Mike German to step down and for a leadership vote to be held.
Party rules state that a contest must be held within a year of an election and Mr Black believes the sooner the better.
But he has declined to put himself forward as a potential leader, at least for the time being, when asked if he fancied taking on the role.
He replied: "Not for the moment though, no."I'm not particularly interested but we'll see who puts their name forward."
Mr Black said he had nothing against Mr German and wouldn't mind if he made a bid for the leadership again. But he said the party needed to have an early vote.
Mr German said he had no plans to resign and confirmed that the party's constitution does call for a leadership vote but that there was no set timetable.
A number of senior Lib Dems have criticised Mr Black for his comments but he has won support from Neath Port Talbot Lib Dem leader John Warman.
He agrees that it could be time for a fresh approach for the Lib Dems, who failed to add to their six seats at the Assembly elections.
Mr Warman said: "I don't think that anyone should stay as leader for too long. I think a fresh approach is useful."
He also called for the Lib Dems to rule out a coalition with Labour, which has 26 of the 60 Assembly seats.
Labour leader Rhodri Morgan has admitted it would be difficult for his party to rule without another party's support.
The Assembly is due to meet tomorrow for the first time since the election began to elect a presiding officer.
The tricky task of agreeing who will lead Wales for the next four years is likely to take a bit longer.
All three parties are keeping their cards close to their chests as to who they might be willing to form a coalition with.
The parties have 28 days to agree how to form a government, otherwise another election will be called.
Mr Warman said: "I don't think there is an appetite for another election.
"As the leader of the Lib Dems in Neath Port Talbot I take the same stance as Peter Black, in the sense that I don't think that we should be propping Labour up.
"We are our own party and we have our agenda."I don't think we can compromise for the offer of one or two positions."
