RABAT, Morocco — (HornPost) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, tasking her with forming a new government after her party emerged as the largest force in last week’s parliamentary election. AP News
El Mansouri, 50, was appointed on Tuesday at the Royal Palace in Rabat. She previously served as Morocco’s minister responsible for national planning, urban development, housing and urban policy, and as mayor of Marrakech. Al Jazeera
Her appointment follows the September 23 parliamentary election, in which the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, the largest share among the competing parties. The party does not hold an outright majority, meaning El Mansouri will need to negotiate with other parties to form a governing coalition. AP News
A historic appointment
El Mansouri becomes the first woman to lead Morocco’s government and the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who held the position from 2021 to 2023. Al Jazeera
In remarks following her appointment, El Mansouri described the development as historic and said it represented a milestone for Moroccan women.
Her political career includes two periods as mayor of Marrakech and several terms as a member of parliament. She became a national government minister in 2021. Al Jazeera
Coalition building ahead
El Mansouri’s immediate task will be to assemble a parliamentary coalition capable of supporting her government.
The PAM’s 97 seats fall well short of the 198 seats required for a majority in the 395-member House of Representatives. Several political parties have indicated that they will remain in opposition, making coalition negotiations a central early challenge for the incoming government. Al Jazeera
The new government will also inherit a range of economic and social priorities, including employment, wages and inflation.
2030 World Cup preparations
The government will oversee major preparations and investment linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Billions of dollars in infrastructure and related investment are expected to be associated with preparations for the tournament, placing the new administration at the center of one of Morocco’s largest upcoming development programs. The Washington Post
El Mansouri’s government will therefore take office at a time when Morocco is seeking to combine major infrastructure investment with efforts to address domestic economic pressures.
Key facts
- New prime minister: Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri
- Appointed: September 29, 2026
- Appointed by: King Mohammed VI
- Party: Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM)
- PAM seats: 97 of 395
- Previous positions: Marrakech mayor; national planning and urban development minister
- Historic milestone: Morocco’s first woman prime minister
- Next task: Form a governing coalition
- Major upcoming priority: Preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup
Prepared by:
HornPost Staff
