Morocco’s King Mohammed VI appoints new government

RABAT: On Friday, Morocco's King Mohammed VI formally announced his country's new government, marking a historic first in the nation's history. The premier, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, heads the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which secured a victory in the September elections. The PAM has formed a coalition with the right-wing Istiqlal party and two smaller left-wing parties, securing a majority of 210 seats out of the 395 in the parliament.

Despite retaining 13 of the 31 ministers from the previous government, including Nasser Bourita as foreign affairs minister and Abdelouafi Laftit as interior minister, the new cabinet brings some changes. Fouzi Lekjaa, who previously served as the head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and economy minister in the outgoing government, has taken on the role of economy minister in the incoming cabinet.

The new government is set to tackle citizens' concerns, with Mansouri pledging an ambitious government program to meet their expectations. The September elections, however, saw the lowest voter turnout in nearly two decades, driven by concerns over the cost of living, employment, and inequality. As the government prepares to take office, it will also need to prepare for the upcoming 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.