Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, marking a historic development in the country’s political history.
King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and tasked her with forming a new government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in the September 23 parliamentary election.
El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer who previously served as Morocco’s minister responsible for urban planning and housing and as mayor of Marrakech. She became the first woman to lead Marrakech when she was elected mayor in 2009 and later returned to the position following the 2021 elections.
Describing her appointment as a historic moment, El Mansouri said: “For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government.” She added that the development was a source of pride for Moroccan women.
Her appointment follows PAM’s victory in the parliamentary election, in which the party won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The result does not give PAM an outright majority, meaning El Mansouri will have to negotiate with other parties to form a governing coalition.
The new prime minister will also face major economic and social issues, including unemployment, living costs and public services. Her government is expected to oversee substantial investments linked to Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Portugal and Spain.
El Mansouri’s appointment is also notable beyond Morocco. She becomes only the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who held the position from 2021 to 2023.
Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections. El Mansouri’s immediate task is therefore to build a coalition and present a cabinet for royal approval as the country begins a new political phase.
