Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister following September’s parliamentary election. El Mansouri received the royal mandate on September 29, after her Authenticity and Modernity Party secured the most parliamentary seats.
Her appointment followed parliamentary elections held September 23, where PAM won 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives parliament. Under Morocco’s constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party winning the largest number of parliamentary seats.
The new prime minister, aged 50, previously served as Marrakech mayor and national minister responsible for housing and urban policy. El Mansouri must now form a coalition government because PAM fell short of the 198 seats required for majority government.
Several parties have signalled different positions, while coalition discussions are expected to determine the composition of Morocco’s next government soon. Meanwhile, her appointment makes El Mansouri only the second woman ever to lead a government in the Arab world today.
Tunisia’s Najla Bouden previously held that distinction after becoming prime minister in 2021 before eventually leaving office two years later. For Morocco, the appointment comes as the government prepares major investments connected with the country’s 2030 World Cup hosting plans.
Beyond football preparations, El Mansouri faces economic issues including inflation, unemployment, wages, and concerns surrounding living costs among Moroccan citizens. Her government will also confront social challenges affecting young people, alongside broader questions surrounding employment, public services, and economic opportunity.
El Mansouri entered politics through PAM and previously became Marrakech’s first woman mayor after winning the municipal election in 2009. Now, her immediate responsibility is building a governing coalition before presenting the administration for royal approval under Morocco’s constitutional framework.
The appointment marks a historic moment in Morocco’s political leadership while coalition negotiations will shape the government’s immediate direction ahead.
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