Morocco has named its first woman prime minister. King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri on Sept. 29, six days after her party won the most seats in a parliamentary election. The royal palace asked her to form a new government.
At a glance
- Appointment: The Ministry of the Royal Household said the king named her head of government under Article 47 of the constitution.
- Election: Her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party, known as PAM, won 97 of 395 seats on Sept. 23, according to Reuters.
- Background: She is a lawyer, a former housing minister, and the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh, France 24 reported.
How Morocco chose its first woman prime minister
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, and the king appoints the prime minister. Since a 2011 C.E. change pushed by Arab Spring protesters, he must pick from the party that wins the most seats, rather than choosing anyone he likes, The Associated Press reported.
The constitution calls the job head of government, and most news outlets call it prime minister. Before the vote, many observers expected the king to choose another PAM figure, football federation chief Fouzi Lekjaa, according to United Press International.
Who El Mansouri is
El Mansouri, 50, joined PAM when it was founded in 2008 C.E. She won her first term as Marrakesh mayor in 2009 C.E. and took the office again in 2021 C.E.
She became housing and urban planning minister in 2021 C.E. In 2024 C.E., she joined PAM’s three-member collective leadership. The outgoing government had four women ministers, so women in senior posts are not new, but the top job is.
What comes next
PAM is far short of the 198 seats needed for a majority, so El Mansouri must win at least 101 more seats from partners to govern. That means building a coalition. She said she would have no “red lines” in those talks. Her cabinet list needs the king’s approval.
Talks began on Sept. 30 with the Popular Movement, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and the Party of Progress and Socialism, Morocco World News reported. The Associated Press said two opposition parties plan to stay out of government.
The next government faces unemployment, living costs, and youth discontent. It will also oversee the final preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco co-hosts with Spain and Portugal.
What remains unresolved
Her mandate starts with limits. The king keeps sweeping powers over policy direction, defense, and foreign affairs, and Reuters said the vote was not expected to change that balance.
Turnout was 38%, down from 50% in 2021 C.E. and the lowest since 2007 C.E. The Associated Press said only about 4% of registered voters were aged 18 to 24, a year after youth-led protests.
PAM was founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, who is now a royal adviser. A woman at the head of government is a milestone, but it does not change those structures on its own. It adds to a growing list of women’s rights wins that open doors once closed.
Read more
For more on this story, see: Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery
For more from Good News for Humankind, see:
- British voters elect record number of women to Parliament
- Women have won 60 seats in the New Mexico Legislature to secure the largest female legislative majority in U.S. history
- The Good News for Humankind archive on women’s rights
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