First female prime minister named in Morocco after winning elections

Morocco crowns its first female prime minister, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, after her party topped the parliamentary vote. The appointment, made by King Mohammed VI, marks a milestone for the Arab world and raises questions about how the new government will assemble a coalition in a fragmented parliament.

Morocco’s constitutional monarchy keeps the king as the country’s highest authority, but the 2011 reform requires him to appoint the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats. In the September 23 election, PAM secured 97 seats, the most of any party, yet fell well short of the 198 needed for an outright majority. The king’s decision to hand the role to El Mansouri, rather than football chief Fouzi Lekjaa, was announced on Tuesday, September 29, marking the first time a woman has headed the Moroccan government.

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El Mansouri’s political career began when PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close adviser to the king. A lawyer trained in France and the United States, she became the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh in 2009 and returned to that post after the 2021 elections. She has also served as Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy in the former government led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

According to the Royal Palace statement, El Mansouri will be tasked with forming a new government. Her main challenge will be building a coalition that can command a majority in the House of Representatives. PAM has signalled willingness to work with all parties, but several, including the Justice and Development Party (PJD) and the Federation of Democratic Left, have declared they will stay in opposition. The PJD, which rebounded to 54 seats after a previous low, has refused to partner with PAM, citing ideological differences.

El Mansouri’s appointment comes against a backdrop of social and economic challenges. The country has seen a low voter turnout of about 38 % in this election, down from around 50 % in the previous cycle, indicating growing public scepticism. The government will also have to manage the final phases of a $20 billion investment programme linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will share with Portugal and Spain. The new administration is expected to deliver on promises to curb inflation, raise wages and create jobs, especially for the youth who were active in the Ceuta border protests and the Gen‑Z‑led demonstrations last year.

El Mansouri’s background as a lawyer and urban planner positions her to address housing and infrastructure needs that have long been pressing in Morocco. She has previously overseen programmes such as direct housing support and reforms tied to urban development and the rehousing of victims of the Al Haouz earthquake.

While the move is historic, it is not without controversy. A group of unidentified hackers alleged that El Mansouri had used her position for personal gain in land transactions in Marrakesh. She denied the claims, called them defamatory and launched legal action. The accusations highlight the complex interplay between political power and private interests in Morocco’s evolving political landscape.

El Mansouri’s appointment also underscores a broader trend in the Arab world. She is only the second woman to serve as prime minister in the region, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden who led the country from 2021 to 2023. Her rise reflects both the influence of the monarchy and the growing visibility of women in high government roles across the Middle East and North Africa.

In a televised address, El Mansouri described her appointment as “truly historic” and expressed pride for Moroccan women. She also said she would have no “red lines” in coalition negotiations, signalling a willingness to collaborate across the political spectrum. The king’s decision to name her, rather than Lekjaa, was seen by some as a deliberate move to promote gender representation.

Moving forward, the next few days will see El Mansouri meeting with party leaders, drafting a cabinet list and seeking the king’s approval. The government will need to secure a majority in the 395‑member House of Representatives, a task that will require strategic alliances and concessions. The outcome of these negotiations will shape Morocco’s policy direction on economic reforms, social welfare and the World Cup preparations.

What to watch next:

• Official confirmation of the cabinet lineup and its approval by King Mohammed VI.
• Statements from the PJD and the Federation of Democratic Left regarding their opposition stance.
• Progress on the World Cup investment programme and any new measures to address inflation and employment.

In the days ahead, Morocco’s political scene will be closely monitored for signs of how the new coalition will navigate the country’s complex social and economic challenges while honouring the historic milestone of a female prime minister.