Morocco Names First Female Prime Minister After Electoral Victory

Tue Sep 29 2026 18:50:29 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After winning the latest parliamentary elections, Morocco appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, marking a historic milestone for the Arab world.

In a landmark decision, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri was named Morocco’s first female prime minister following her party’s electoral success. The Authenticity and Modernity Party secured the largest number of seats, yet a 97‑seat minority means she must forge a coalition. King Mohammed VI chose El Mansouri over fellow party leader Fouzi Lekjaa, underscoring his support for female leadership. The appointment arrives in a constitutional monarchy where the king holds most executive power, while the new prime minister will navigate the challenges of forming a governing alliance and addressing ongoing national debates on gender equality.

Morocco Names First Female Prime Minister After Electoral Victory

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri in celebration — Fatima Zahra El Mansouri in a celebratory crowd following the announcement of provisional results.

The constitutional monarchy of Morocco has just made history when King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister. El Mansouri, 50, has been the long‑serving mayor of Marrakesh and a former minister in the previous coalition government.

Her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam), won the most seats in the parliamentary elections held last week, but only secured 97 of the 395 seats needed for a majority. The new prime minister will therefore need to negotiate a coalition with other parties to form a stable government.

El Mansouri’s appointment follows the 2024 ascension of her party to a collective leadership structure, removing the traditional single secretary‑general model. The king’s decision to favour her over fellow party leader Fouzi Lekjaa, a football chief, underscores his endorsement of female representation.

In a press briefing, the newly appointed prime minister avoided questions about potential changes to religious practices that might accommodate her leadership, instead praising the king as “the biggest advocate for women.” She described the role as a great honour and reaffirmed her commitment to serve.

El Mansouri’s political career began after Pam’s founding in 2008, and she became the first woman to hold the mayoralty of Marrakesh in 2009. Her legal background, acquired at Mohammed V University and further specialized in business and corporate law abroad, bolstered her governance approach.

The election outcome leaves Pam without a majority, meaning El Mansouri must seek allies while navigating tensions with the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the resurgent Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which captured 54 seats. The PJD has ruled out government participation, thereby shaping the coalition possibilities.

As Morocco steps into this new era, all eyes will be on how El Mansouri balances the king’s considerable authority with her responsibilities as head of government—and whether her leadership will accelerate reforms on gender equality, polygamy, and inheritance laws.