Fatima Mansouri: Morocco's first female prime minister?

Fatima Zahra Mansouri, a lawyer born in Marrakesh in 1976, has emerged as a frontrunner to become Morocco's first female prime minister. The Moroccan King Mohammed VI recently asked her to form a government after her party, Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), secured the majority of seats in the recent legislative elections.

Observers view her appointment as a reflection of increasing women's roles in national affairs and a potential quiet revolution in Morocco. Mansouri, who was previously Mayor of Marrakesh from 2009-21, has gained significant experience in governance. Despite youth unemployment at 37%, she has been receptive to young people's demands, particularly those made during recent youth protests over issues such as jobs, education, healthcare, local development, and urban-rural inequality.

She now needs to negotiate with other political party leaders to form a government and secure a majority with at least 101 additional parliamentary votes.