Morocco Appoints First Female Prime Minister

Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, following her party’s victory in last week’s parliamentary elections.

King Mohammed VI announced El Mansouri’s appointment on Tuesday after her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the highest number of seats in parliament.

The 50-year-old lawyer and long-serving mayor of Marrakesh has also served as a minister in the previous coalition government. During the election campaign, she placed young Moroccans at the centre of her platform, promising to restore hope through concrete solutions.

El Mansouri is expected to focus on unemployment, the rising cost of living and social disparities, particularly those affecting young people.

“Young people are going through a crisis and we must provide them with answers,” she said during the campaign.

The PAM did not secure an outright parliamentary majority, meaning El Mansouri will have to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government. Her experience as the party’s national coordinator could assist in the process.

As prime minister, she will also oversee preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup and continue work on the government’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in which the king retains significant powers over areas including foreign policy and defence.