Morocco appoints El Mansouri as first female PM

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI has appointed 50-year-old lawyer Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the first female prime minister of the country following recent parliamentary elections.

According to an official announcement from the Royal Palace, King Mohammed VI tasked El Mansouri with forming a new government after her party won the highest number of seats in the September 23 elections.

El Mansouri led the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which secured 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives. Under Morocco’s constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the political party that wins the most parliamentary seats.

She is the first woman to lead Morocco’s government and only the second female prime minister in Arab history, after Najla Bouden of Tunisia.

Before taking on the top executive role, El Mansouri built a strong record in public service. She became the first female mayor of Marrakesh in 2009 and previously served as minister responsible for housing, urban planning, and national policy.

El Mansouri administration will oversee major national developments, including preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, as well as tackling economic priorities like youth unemployment and inflation.