Morocco appoints first female prime minister

Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the nation's inaugural female prime minister and tasked her with forming a new government following the September 23 parliamentary election. The election saw El Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party, PAM, secure the most seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.

The Royal Palace announced the appointment on Tuesday, revealing that King Mohammed VI had met with El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat before confirming her as head of government in compliance with the country's constitution. PAM won 97 seats, with the National Rally of Independents and the Istiqlal Party securing 66 and 65 seats respectively.

El Mansouri must now engage with other parties to construct a coalition government, as Morocco functions under a constitutional monarchy where the King holds significant power. The constitution dictates that the monarch appoints the premier from the political party with the greatest representation in the House of Representatives.

El Mansouri, a 50-year-old lawyer, previously served as mayor of Marrakech and held a ministerial position in the previous administration. As the first woman to lead Morocco's government, she becomes only the second female prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden. The incoming administration will be tasked with managing Morocco's preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted with Spain and Portugal, and addressing economic and social issues, such as youth employment and public service delivery.