Editing Plaid Cymru (section)

====Fourth National Assembly (2011–16)====
In the [[2011 National Assembly for Wales election|2011 National Assembly election]], Plaid slipped from second place to third, being overtaken by the [[Welsh Conservatives]] and losing its deputy leader [[Helen Mary Jones]]. The party held an inquiry into the election result.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plaid plans review of election catastrophe |date=10 May 2011 |work=Wales Online |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2011/05/10/plaid-plans-review-of-election-catastrophe-91466-28663985/ |access-date=16 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014105311/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2011/05/10/plaid-plans-review-of-election-catastrophe-91466-28663985/ |archive-date=14 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The internal investigation led to the adoption of wide-ranging changes to its constitution, including a streamlining of the leadership structure.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plaid Cymru agrees new constitution at special Aberystwyth conference |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 February 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21479687 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213073019/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21479687 |archive-date=13 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2011, Ieuan Wyn Jones announced he would stand down as leader within the first half of the Assembly term.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13389407 |work=[[BBC News]] |location=UK |title=Ieuan Wyn Jones to stand down as Plaid Cymru leader |date=13 May 2011 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530040119/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-13389407 |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> A leadership election was held in which three candidates eventually stood: [[Elin Jones]], [[Dafydd Elis-Thomas]] and [[Leanne Wood]];<ref>{{cite news |title=Plaid Cymru leadership: Profiles of the three candidates |work=[[BBC News]] |date=27 January 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-16746098 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170530121132/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-16746098 |archive-date=30 May 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Simon Thomas (politician)|Simon Thomas]] withdrew his candidacy before ballots were cast.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/64626-simon-thomas-yn-tynnu-n-ol-o-ras-arweinyddiaeth-plaid |work=Golwg360 |title=Simon Thomas yn tynnu'n ôl o ras arweinyddiaeth Plaid |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926005105/http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/64626-simon-thomas-yn-tynnu-n-ol-o-ras-arweinyddiaeth-plaid |archive-date=26 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 March 2012, Plaid Cymru elected Leanne Wood as its new leader. She received 55% of the vote, over second-placed Elin Jones with 41%.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newyddion/17381134d |work=[[Newyddion]] |publisher=[[BBC Cymru]] |title=Leanne Wood yw arweinydd newydd Plaid Cymru |date=6 February 2012}}</ref> Wood was the party's first female leader, and its first not to be a fluent Welsh speaker.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17381377 |work=[[BBC News]] |title=Plaid Cymru elect Leanne Wood as new leader |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225110437/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17381377 |archive-date=25 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/03/15/leanne-wood-becomes-first-female-leader-of-plaid-cymru-91466-30546068/ |title=Leanne Wood becomes first female leader of Plaid Cymru |work=WalesOnline |date=23 March 2012 |access-date=13 August 2012 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806084527/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/leanne-wood-becomes-first-female-2045084 |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after her election as leader, she appointed former MP [[Adam Price]] to head an economic commission for the party "focussed on bringing together tailor-made policies in order to transform our economy".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.partyofwales.org/news/2012/03/21/new-plaid-cymru-leader-unveils-economic-commission |title=New Plaid Cymru Leader Unveils Economic Commission |publisher=Plaid Cymru |date=21 March 2012 |access-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928052541/http://www.partyofwales.org/news/2012/03/21/new-plaid-cymru-leader-unveils-economic-commission |archive-date=28 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17499893 |title=Adam Price: WDA was 'thrown away' and Wales needs new economic powerhouse |work=[[BBC News]] |date=25 March 2012 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107025418/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-17499893 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 May 2012, it was confirmed Leanne Wood would not be taking the £23,000 pay increase that every other party leader in the Assembly receives.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plaid-leader-leanne-wood-turns-2660022 |title=Plaid leader Leanne Wood turns down pay rise |newspaper=[[Daily Post (North Wales)|Daily Post]] |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317195128/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/plaid-leader-leanne-wood-turns-2660022 |archive-date=17 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 12 November 2012, Wood announced she would aim to abandon her relatively safe list seat by winning a constituency at the 2016 National Assembly elections;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/91492-leanne-wood-i-sefyll-mewn-sedd-etholaeth-yn-2016 |title=Leanne Wood am sefyll mewn sedd etholaeth yn 2016 |publisher=Golwg 360 |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925230932/http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/cymru/91492-leanne-wood-i-sefyll-mewn-sedd-etholaeth-yn-2016 |archive-date=25 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> she later confirmed she would contest the [[Rhondda (Assembly constituency)|Rhondda]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newyddion/21805446 |title=Leanne Wood i ymladd etholaeth Rhondda yn 2016 |publisher=[[BBC Cymru]] |date=15 March 2013 |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420061241/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newyddion/21805446 |archive-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Adam Price was subsequently selected as the party's candidate for [[Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (UK Parliament constituency)|Carmarthen East and Dinefwr]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-23284160 |title=Ex-Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price to stand for Welsh assembly |publisher=[[BBC Cymru]] |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107074500/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-23284160 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lindsay Whittle confirmed he would stand solely in [[Caerphilly (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Caerphilly]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caerphillyobserver.co.uk/news/913696/lindsay-whittle-chosen-as-caerphilly-assembly-candidate |title=Lindsay Whittle chosen as Caerphilly Assembly candidate |work=Caerphilly Observer |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002085037/http://www.caerphillyobserver.co.uk/news/913696/lindsay-whittle-chosen-as-caerphilly-assembly-candidate/ |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 June 2013, former party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones stood down from the Assembly as the member for [[Ynys Môn (National Assembly for Wales constituency)|Ynys Môn]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/newyddion/22989983 |title=Ieuan Wyn am sefyll i lawr yn syth |publisher=[[BBC Cymru]] |access-date=25 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107002258/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newyddion/22989983 |archive-date=7 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Plaid Cymru's candidate [[Rhun ap Iorwerth]] was elected as the new Assembly Member for the constituency, receiving 12,601 votes (a 58% share) with a majority of 9,166 over the Labour candidate.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canlyniadau'r etholiad ar gyfer Ynys Môn |language=Welsh |trans-title=Election results for Anglesey |url=http://www.senedd.cynulliadcymru.org/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=50 |website=[[National Assembly for Wales]] |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926034834/http://www.senedd.cynulliadcymru.org/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=50 |archive-date=26 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>