Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri: Morocco’s First Woman to Lead the Government

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has made history as Morocco’s first female prime minister, bringing a long political career and experience in local and national government to the country’s highest executive office. King Mohammed VI appointed the 50-year-old lawyer on Tuesday and tasked her with forming a government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in last week’s parliamentary election, winning 97 of 395 seats . “This is a truly historic moment,” El Mansouri said after meeting the king, describing her appointment as a milestone for Moroccan women. Her

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has made history as Morocco’s first female prime minister, bringing a long political career and experience in local and national government to the country’s highest executive office. King Mohammed VI appointed the 50-year-old lawyer on Tuesday and tasked her with forming a government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in last week’s parliamentary election, winning 97 of 395 seats. “This is a truly historic moment,” El Mansouri said after meeting the king, describing her appointment as a milestone for Moroccan women. Her political journey began with PAM in 2008, when the party was founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, now an adviser to the king. A year later, she achieved her first major breakthrough, becoming the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh at the age of 33. She lost the position in 2015 when the Justice and Development Party took control of the city, but returned as mayor in 2021. Her political career then expanded nationally when she joined the government of outgoing Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch as a minister. Now, she returns to the centre of national politics with the responsibility of forming a new government. PAM does not hold enough parliamentary seats to govern alone, meaning El Mansouri will need to negotiate with other political parties to form a coalition. She has said there will be no “red lines” in those negotiations. Her appointment also comes amid pressure from Morocco’s younger population. Parliamentary turnout fell to 38 percent, down from 50 percent five years earlier, while youth unemployment and economic opportunities were prominent concerns during the campaign. PAM has promised to create at least one million jobs, target average annual economic growth of 5 percent and maintain inflation at around 2 percent. El Mansouri now faces the challenge of turning those promises into government policy while managing high public expectations. Her rise marks a historic moment for Morocco, but her tenure will ultimately be defined by the policies and reforms her government delivers.