Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri becomes first female prime minister of Morocco

For the first time in its history, Morocco has appointed a woman as prime minister. King Mohammed VI officially tasked Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri with forming a new government following the success of her party in the recent legislative elections. The royal palace in Rabat confirmed the appointment, which marks a significant shift in the nation's political landscape.

El Mansouri, a 50-year-old lawyer and national coordinator of the center-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), led her party to win 97 out of 395 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. While the election faced historically low turnout at 38%, the appointment is seen as a milestone for gender representation. As her party does not hold an absolute majority, El Mansouri must now negotiate with other political factions to form a coalition government. It remains noted that while domestic policy is managed by the cabinet, the country's core strategic decisions stay under the authority of the monarch.

El Mansouri has been a member of PAM since its founding in 2008 by former royal advisor Fouad Ali El Himma. She previously served as the first female mayor of Marrakech, elected in 2009 at the age of 33, and secured a second term in 2021. The process of forming the government is now officially underway.