Morocco Appoints Its First Female Prime Minister: Mansouri Transitions from Mayor to Prime Minister

October 1, Kathmandu – Morocco has made history by appointing its first-ever female prime minister. King Mohammed VI designated Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the prime minister, tasking her with forming a new government. Mansouri’s party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), secured the most seats in the recently concluded parliamentary elections, prompting the royal court to appoint her as head of government on Tuesday. At 50 years old, Mansouri is the first woman to become prime minister in Morocco’s history and only the second woman to serve as an Arab world’s prime minister, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who assumed office in 2021.

PAM won 97 seats in the September 23 parliamentary elections, the highest among the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) came in second with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65 seats. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) obtained 54 seats. Since 198 seats are required for a majority, PAM does not hold enough seats to form a government independently. Mansouri faces the significant challenge of building coalition partnerships with other political parties to establish a governing alliance.

Fatima Mansouri is a professional lawyer who studied law at the University of Montpellier in France. She has been affiliated with PAM since its founding in 2008. In 2009, she served as the mayor of Morocco’s renowned city of Marrakech and was re-elected mayor after the 2021 elections. That same year, she also joined the national government.

Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Hosting the tournament will require substantial investments in infrastructure, transportation, stadiums, and other facilities. The forthcoming government will be responsible for advancing these preparations and managing significant investments. Additionally, creating employment opportunities, increasing prospects for youth, controlling inflation, boosting income, and improving public services will be key priorities on the new government’s agenda.