Morocco Appoints First Female Prime Minister

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as the nation’s prime minister, tasking her with forming a new government following recent parliamentary elections. Mansouri becomes the first woman to head Morocco’s government and only the second female prime minister in the history of the Arab world.

Election Victory and Constitutional Mandate

Mansouri leads the center-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which won 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives during last week’s election. PAM finished 31 seats ahead of its closest rival, despite the vote recording the lowest voter turnout in two decades.

Under Morocco’s constitution, the king holds the authority to name the prime minister, provided the selection is drawn from the party that wins the highest number of parliamentary seats. Following the official announcement by the royal cabinet on Tuesday, Mansouri stated that her appointment was “a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women.” Her selection places her alongside Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served from 2021 to 2023, as the only women to serve as prime ministers in the region.

Political Career and Background

The 50-year-old politician has been a member of PAM since its creation in 2008. The party was established by Fouad Ali El Himma, currently a adviser to the monarch, to act as a political counterweight to Morocco’s Islamist movements.

Mansouri previously broke barriers in municipal government when she became the first female mayor of Marrakesh in 2009, serving a six-year term before returning to the position in 2021. She has also served as a member of parliament.

Economic Priorities and Coalition Talks

The incoming administration faces significant economic pressures, including addressing inflation, boosting employment, and raising national wage levels. Mansouri will also be responsible for directing substantial investments tied to Morocco co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Reflecting on the task ahead, Mansouri noted that the coming period would be “marked by high expectations from Moroccans, particularly young people.” She added that her administration would offer “concrete and realistic solutions to citizens’ concerns.”

To build a governing majority, PAM has expressed an intent to negotiate with all political factions. However, some groups have already stated they will not participate in the government. Both the moderate Islamist Justice and Development party and the left-wing Federation of Democratic Left have declared their intention to remain in opposition.

Background

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy where political parties compete for seats in the lower house of parliament, while executive power remains heavily concentrated around the monarch. Under constitutional reforms, the king must select the prime minister from the party securing the largest parliamentary bloc. Female representation at the highest executive levels remains rare in the Middle East and North Africa, where executive heads of government have historically been men.