Morocco Appoints First Woman Prime Minister After Election Victory
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in last week’s parliamentary elections.
The 50-year-old lawyer and politician was tasked with forming a new government following PAM’s victory in the September 23 election. The party won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, falling short of the 198 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
El Mansouri will therefore need to negotiate with other parties to build a governing coalition. The National Rally of Independents won 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65.
Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in the lower house.
El Mansouri, who has previously served as mayor of Marrakech and minister responsible for housing and urban planning, described her appointment as a historic moment for Morocco. She said her government would seek to develop “realistic and concrete solutions” to address citizens’ expectations, particularly those of young people.
Her government will also oversee major preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain, alongside efforts to address unemployment, living costs and social pressures.
