Fatima Zahra Mansouri has been appointed as Morocco's first female prime minister, as announced by the country's royal cabinet on Tuesday. This appointment follows her center-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) winning the most seats in the recent parliamentary elections. Mansouri previously served as the mayor of Marrakesh and has been a member of PAM since its founding in 2008.
King Mohammed VI has tasked Mansouri with forming the next government, in accordance with the Moroccan constitution, which requires the king to appoint a prime minister from the party that secures the most seats in parliamentary elections. PAM won 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives, which is 31 more than the next closest party. However, the election saw the lowest voter turnout in two decades.
In her statement, Mansouri expressed pride in her appointment, stating, "For the first time in our country's history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government. This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women." She is now the second woman in the Arab world to hold the position of prime minister, following Najla Bouden of Tunisia.
Mansouri's government will focus on addressing key voter concerns, including inflation, wage increases, and job creation, while also managing investments related to Morocco co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. She acknowledged the high expectations from Moroccans, particularly the youth, and emphasized the need for a program that offers realistic solutions to citizens' concerns.
Mansouri's political career includes her tenure as mayor of Marrakesh, where she was first elected in 2009 and served for six years, returning to the position in 2021. By 2024, she had become one of PAM's top leaders. PAM has indicated a willingness to collaborate with all parties in forming a government, although some parties, including the moderate Islamist Justice and Development party and the left-wing Federation of Democratic Left, have stated their intention to remain in opposition.