RABAT
Morocco entered a new chapter in its political history Tuesday after King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as prime minister, making her the first woman to hold the position in the kingdom.
The appointment followed parliamentary elections Sept. 23 in which the Authenticity and Modernity Party, or PAM, emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives.
According to a statement from the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery, the king received El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Sept. 29 and appointed her head of government in accordance with Article 47 of Morocco’s Constitution.
The provision requires the monarch to appoint the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections. The king also charged El Mansouri with forming a new government.
PAM secured 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives, ahead of the National Rally of Independents, or RNI, with 66 seats and the Istiqlal Party with 65.
The Justice and Development Party, or PJD, which governed Morocco from 2011 to 2021, rebounded to win 54 seats after suffering a heavy defeat five years earlier.
While PAM finished first, it fell well short of an outright majority, meaning El Mansouri must negotiate with other parties to assemble a governing coalition capable of commanding support in parliament.
PAM increased its representation from the previous legislature, while the RNI, which led the outgoing coalition under Aziz Akhannouch, lost significant ground.
The vote took place amid concerns over unemployment, rising living costs, public services and opportunities for young Moroccans. Voter turnout was about 38%, among the lowest levels recorded in the country under King Mohammed VI.
Shortly after her appointment, El Mansouri described the moment as historic and pledged to begin consultations to form a government capable of responding to citizens’ expectations, particularly those of younger Moroccans.
From lawyer to prime minister
Born in Marrakesh on Jan. 3, 1976, El Mansouri trained as a lawyer and built a career in commercial and real estate law before entering politics.
She joined the movement that later gave rise to PAM and became one of the party’s founding figures after its creation in 2008.
Her national profile rose sharply in 2009 when she became the first woman elected mayor of Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s most prominent cities. She served in the post until 2015 and returned to the mayoralty in 2021. Between those terms, she also served as a member of parliament and later chaired PAM’s National Council.
Most recently, El Mansouri served as minister responsible for national territorial planning, urban development, housing and city policy in the outgoing government.
In 2024, she became coordinator of PAM’s collective leadership, placing her at the forefront of the party’s 2026 election campaign.
Her appointment as prime minister marks a milestone for women’s political representation in Morocco. Although women have held senior ministerial, judicial and advisory positions, no woman had previously served as head of government since Morocco gained independence.
As she begins coalition talks, El Mansouri faces an agenda that includes sustaining economic growth, addressing social pressures and helping steer preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Her appointment marks a significant moment in modern Moroccan political history.
