King Mohammed VI of Morocco has made a historic decision by appointing Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female Prime Minister. She is the second woman in the Arab world to assume the role of Prime Minister; previously, Najla Bouden served as Prime Minister of Tunisia from October 2021 to August 2023.
On Tuesday, the Royal Palace announced in a statement that El Mansouri—the 50-year-old Minister of Urban Planning and Mayor of Marrakesh—has been tasked with forming the new government. In a televised address, El Mansouri described her appointment as “truly historic.” She stated, “For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking charge of the government. This is a source of pride not only for me but for all women in Morocco.” The BBC reported this news.
El Mansouri was appointed Prime Minister four days after the results of last week’s election were announced. In that election, the monarchy-aligned Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured the highest number of votes, winning 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives (the lower house of parliament). However, PAM fell far short of the 198 seats required for an absolute majority; consequently, the party must form a coalition to govern. Forming this coalition will be El Mansouri’s first task as Prime Minister.
Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend of King Mohammed VI, founded PAM in 2008.
The party has expressed a willingness to work with all political parties. However, several parties—including the Justice and Development Party (PJD) and the Federation of the Democratic Left—have indicated that they will remain in the opposition. The coalition formed by this government will determine the allocation of billions of dollars in investment funds ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Morocco, Portugal, and Spain will be the primary hosts of the 2030 World Cup.
Notably, El Mansouri was born in Marrakesh in 1976 and studied law. She obtained a diploma in Advanced Studies from the University of Montpellier in France and a diploma in Anglo-Saxon Business Law from New York University in the United States. Her political career in local government began quite some time ago; in 2009, she was elected Mayor of Marrakesh, becoming the first woman to hold this position. After completing her first term, she returned to lead the Marrakesh municipal council following the 2021 elections. Concurrently, she gained parliamentary experience by serving multiple consecutive terms as a member of the House of Representatives.
In October 2021, El Mansouri joined the national government, assuming responsibility for the Ministry of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy. During her tenure, several significant initiatives under the ministry’s purview came to the forefront, including the direct housing support program, reforms in urban planning and territorial development, and rehabilitation efforts for those affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.
