Morocco appoints first female prime minister

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, a 50-year-old Moroccan politician, has become the nation's first female Prime Minister, marking a significant milestone in the country's political landscape. King Mohammed VI appointed her to head the government at the Royal Palace in Rabat, after she led the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) to victory in the September 23 parliamentary election.

El Mansouri, who has served as Mayor of Marrakesh and Urban Planning and Housing Minister under Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, brings a strong leadership style to the role, balancing firmness with the ability to listen. Her appointment is particularly noteworthy as Morocco has never had a female head of government. El Mansouri's political career includes legal studies, postgraduate work in business contract law, and a law practice specializing in property and land law.

Born in Marrakesh, she studied law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, completed further studies in France and the United States, and worked as a lawyer before entering politics. As the first female Mayor of Marrakesh, El Mansouri has consistently demonstrated her commitment to women's representation in politics, stating that Moroccan women "deserve respect and recognition."

PAM, founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, is positioned as a modernizing, liberal-centrist party, currently holding 97 seats out of 395 in the House of Representatives. To form a government, El Mansouri will need to negotiate with other parties, as PAM falls short of the 198 seats required for a majority. She faces challenges such as youth unemployment, public services, and the cost of living, while also preparing for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

Her historic appointment comes at a time of declining voter turnout, with just 38% of eligible voters participating in the recent election, down from roughly 50% five years earlier.