Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first woman prime minister after her party emerged as the largest in parliament.
RABAT: Morocco has reached a historic political milestone after King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, following parliamentary elections held on September 23, 2026.
El Mansouri, a 50-year-old lawyer and senior figure in the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was tasked with forming Morocco’s next government after PAM emerged as the largest party in the 395-seat House of Representatives.
The party secured 97 seats, ahead of the National Rally of Independents with 66 and the Istiqlal Party with 65. The Justice and Development Party won 54 seats and has said it will remain in opposition.
A historic first for Morocco
El Mansouri has held several senior roles in Moroccan politics, including Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy. She has also served as mayor of Marrakech, becoming the first woman elected to that position in 2009.
Her elevation makes her Morocco’s first female head of government and the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served from 2021 to 2023.
Coalition government next
PAM remains well short of the 198 seats required for an outright majority, meaning El Mansouri’s immediate challenge will be negotiating with other parties to form a governing coalition.
She has indicated that coalition discussions will remain open as she works to assemble an administration capable of securing parliamentary support.
Economic challenges and World Cup preparations
The incoming government will face pressure to address unemployment, living costs, wages and social disparities, with concerns among younger Moroccans featuring prominently during the election campaign.
El Mansouri’s government will also oversee major infrastructure and investment programmes connected with the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Reuters estimates Morocco’s preparations for the tournament at around $20 billion, making the programme one of the major economic and infrastructure priorities facing the next administration.
Impact to expect
Her appointment marks a significant moment for women’s political representation in Morocco while opening the next phase of negotiations over the composition and priorities of the new government.
