King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first female prime minister. This historic selection marks only the second instance of a woman holding the premiership in the Arab world, following Najla Bouden’s tenure in Tunisia between 2021 and 2023. In a televised address, the 50-year-old leader described the milestone as “truly historic,” noting that it is a source of pride for her and all Moroccan women to be the first to lead the government.
The royal palace confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, just four days after electoral results were finalized. El Mansouri, who serves as both the mayor of Marrakesh and the national Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy, now faces the immediate challenge of forming a governing coalition. Her political vehicle, the monarchy-aligned Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), secured 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives during last week’s elections.
Because the party fell short of the 198 seats required for a legislative majority, El Mansouri must negotiate with other factions to establish a functional government. While PAM was founded in 2008 by a close associate of the king and has declared an openness to cross-party cooperation, several groups—including the Federation of Democratic Left and the Justice and Development Party—have already signaled their intent to remain in the opposition. PAM fell well short of the 198 seats needed for an outright majority and will need to build a coalition in order to govern, which will be El Mansouri’s first task. PAM, founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend of the king, has expressed its willingness to work with all parties.
Securing this coalition is critical, as the new government will oversee significant investment allocations. Among the most pressing responsibilities will be managing infrastructure and development budgets ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco is set to host alongside Portugal and Spain.
El Mansouri’s career is defined by a deep background in law and local governance. Born in Marrakesh in 1976, she holds degrees from the University of Montpellier in France and New York University, where she studied Anglo-Saxon business law. She first broke barriers in 2009 by becoming the first female mayor of Marrakesh. Following a hiatus, she returned to the city’s municipal council after the 2021 elections.
Since joining the national cabinet in October 2021, she has managed a complex portfolio that includes urban reform, direct housing support, and the critical recovery efforts for survivors of the Al Haouz earthquake. Her transition to the head of government follows years of legislative experience as an elected member of the House of Representatives, positioning her as a central figure in the Kingdom’s current political landscape.
