Morocco has made history with King Mohammed VI appointing Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first female prime minister, just days after her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) claimed victory in parliamentary elections. The 50-year-old lawyer and former mayor of Marrakech was tasked by the Royal Palace with forming a new government, marking a landmark moment for the Muslim kingdom.
A historic appointment four days after the election
The announcement came four days after parliamentary election results were declared, with El Mansouri's PAM emerging as the leading party. Under Morocco's constitution — which was reformed following Arab Spring protests in 2011 — the king must appoint as prime minister a candidate from the party that wins the most parliamentary seats. Prior to that reform, the monarch held unrestricted power to choose anyone for the role.
Because Morocco's electoral system makes it difficult for any single party to secure an outright majority, El Mansouri is expected to spend coming days assembling a coalition government.
Only the second female prime minister in the Arab world
El Mansouri's elevation to the top of Moroccan government makes her only the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Najla Bouden, who held the position in Tunisia. Her appointment is widely seen as a significant milestone not just for Morocco but for the broader region.
A law graduate from the University of Montpellier in France, El Mansouri joined PAM when it was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close adviser and childhood friend of the king. She rose to become one of the party's senior figures in 2024 and served twice as mayor of Marrakech, as well as sitting as a member of parliament.
Key challenges and priorities ahead
The incoming government faces a substantial economic agenda. El Mansouri's administration is expected to oversee billions of dollars in investment tied to Morocco's co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while also delivering on campaign promises to combat inflation, lift wages and create new jobs for Moroccan workers.
Her government will need to balance those major infrastructure and economic commitments with the coalition-building demands inherent to Morocco's parliamentary system — a complex task that will define the early weeks of her prime ministership.
A career built in law, local government and party politics
Before her national breakthrough, El Mansouri built her political profile at the local level, serving as mayor of Marrakech on two separate occasions while also holding a seat in parliament. Her legal background and long tenure within PAM are expected to inform her approach to governance as she moves to assemble a cabinet and chart her government's legislative priorities.
