Morocco has appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as its first woman to lead the government, following the electoral success of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on Tuesday and asked her to form a new government after PAM won more seats than any other party in the September 23 parliamentary election.
The appointment makes El Mansouri only the second woman to head a government in the Arab world after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served as prime minister from 2021 to 2023.
A Historic Political Appointment
El Mansouri, 50, is a senior PAM figure and the mayor of Marrakech.
She previously served as Morocco’s minister of national planning, urban planning, housing and city policy. She has also held senior positions within PAM since the party was founded in 2008.
According to an official biography, she holds law degrees from Mohammed V University in Rabat and universities in France and the United States. She has worked as a lawyer specialising in land and property law.
Election Victory Opens the Door
PAM secured 97 seats in Morocco’s 395-member House of Representatives, according to the final election results announced by the Interior Ministry.
The National Rally of Independents finished with 66 seats, followed by Istiqlal with 65 and the Justice and Development Party with 54.
Although PAM won the largest number of seats, it fell well short of the 198 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
That means El Mansouri must now negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government.
The King Makes the Appointment
Morocco operates as a constitutional monarchy, with King Mohammed VI retaining significant constitutional and political powers.
The Royal Palace said the king received El Mansouri in Rabat on Tuesday before appointing her head of government and instructing her to form a new administration.
Her appointment follows the constitutional requirement that the head of government be selected from the party that finishes first in parliamentary elections.
A Familiar Face in Marrakech
El Mansouri has a long political record.
She became mayor of Marrakech in 2009, making her the first woman to lead the city. She later returned to the position after the 2021 elections.
She also served in parliament and held senior leadership responsibilities within PAM before becoming coordinator of the party’s collective leadership in 2024.
Her experience in local government and national politics is expected to shape her approach as she begins negotiations to form a new administration.
World Cup and Economic Challenges
El Mansouri’s government will take office as Morocco prepares for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The administration will also face domestic challenges involving jobs, wages, inflation, housing and public services.
The election itself was marked by relatively low turnout, with only about 38% of registered voters participating, according to election reporting.
For Morocco, El Mansouri’s appointment creates a new chapter in the country’s political history.
For the new prime minister, however, the immediate challenge is practical: building a coalition and forming a government capable of winning parliamentary support for its programme.
