Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Becomes Morocco’s First Woman Prime Minister

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has been chosen Morocco’s first female prime minister following the country’s legislative elections on September 23. King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri as head of government on Tuesday and charged her with building a new cabinet, according to an official statement from the Royal Palace. Her selection is a watershed moment in Moroccan politics, coming after her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), won the most seats in Parliament.

El Mansouri now faces the problem of forming a coalition administration, as her party lacks sufficient seats to gain a parliamentary majority on its own. Her political expertise in local government and national administration will be essential in her new post.

Who Is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer and seasoned politician who has held various high-level roles in Morocco. She rose to national prominence in 2009 when she was elected mayor of Marrakesh, becoming the city’s first female mayor.

Her selection as mayor constituted a watershed moment in her political career. She eventually entered national politics, serving in the ministry of outgoing Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, where she was responsible for national planning, urban development, housing, and urban policy.

El Mansouri has also been the national coordinator of PAM’s collective leadership. Her background in local administration, housing policy, and national government has given her a diverse role in Moroccan public affairs.

El Mansouri’s current appointment makes her only the second Arab woman to lead a government, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who was prime minister from 2021 to 2023.

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Faces Coalition Challenge

Despite becoming the largest party in the September 23 parliamentary elections, PAM failed to secure an outright majority in the 395-member House of Representatives. The party gained 97 seats, while the National Rally of Independents (RNI) won 66 and the Istiqlal Party received 65.

The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won 54 seats. A party requires at least 198 seats to win a majority in the lower chamber, making PAM reliant on assistance from other political parties.

El Mansouri will consequently need to negotiate with other parties in order to establish a ruling coalition. The makeup of the new administration will be a critical aspect of her early job as prime minister.

The election also had a voter turnout of approximately 38%. The low participation rate occurred against the backdrop of widespread public anxiety about economic conditions, employment, and social services.

Key Priorities for Morocco’s New Government

El Mansouri will assume office as Morocco prepares for huge economic and infrastructure projects, but being under pressure to increase jobs and public services. One of the government’s primary objectives will be to assist with preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.

The country has already started investing in tournament-related infrastructure. At the same time, the new government must handle broader domestic problems such as healthcare, social protection, salaries, and jobs.

During the election campaign, PAM promised to create one million jobs and increase spending on social programs. Delivering on these claims will be a significant task for the next administration, especially as young people continue to voice displeasure with economic and social conditions.

Morocco’s democratic structure also provides the king substantial power, particularly over defence and foreign policy. The head of government leads the executive branch and is responsible for domestic policy and the day-to-day operations of the government.

El Mansouri’s first goal will be to gain the political backing required to establish her cabinet. The parties that join the coalition, as well as the ideas reached during the negotiations, will help form Morocco’s next government.