{ "id": 10748671, "title": "Morocco's king appoints first female prime minister following election", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/moroccos-king-appoints-first-female-prime-minister-following-election", "topic": "world", "section": "World", "published": "2026-09-29T18:18:53.000Z", "source": { "name": "Jerusalem Post", "slug": "jerusalem-post", "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-910113" }, "original_language": "en", "account": "Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed his first female prime minister, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, following the country's recent parliamentary election on September 23. The election saw El Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) win the most seats, with the party advocating for social modernization and secular views as a counterweight to the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).\n\nPAM, created in 2008, has positioned itself as a moderate alternative to the PJD by focusing on social progress and secularism. The party's rise in the election, bolstered by the recruitment of Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco's football federation chief and a former government budget manager, allowed El Mansouri to be appointed as the new head of government.\n\nEl Mansouri, a lawyer who previously served as housing minister and mayor of Marrakech, will now lead the process of forming a coalition government and submitting a list of cabinet members for King Mohammed VI's approval. The incoming government will focus on addressing economic challenges, including the final stages of a $20-billion initiative to prepare for the 2030 World Cup co-hosted with Portugal and Spain.\n\nEconomic concerns, such as widespread youth discontent and hyperinflation, were prominent issues in the campaign. The PAM had previously ruled out forming a coalition with the conservative nationalist Istiqlal party, but El Mansouri stated during a Thursday interview that she had no red lines in negotiations.\n\nThe new government will consist of PAM with 97 seats, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats, and the conservative nationalist Istiqlal with 65 seats. During the campaign, PAM had ruled out a coalition with the RNI, but El Mansouri announced on Thursday that there were no restrictions in her negotiations.\n\nAbdelilah Benkirane, the former prime minister and leader of the opposition PJD, which won 54 seats, has stated that his party would remain in opposition. Turnout in the recent election was lower than previous elections, with around 38% of eligible voters participating, compared to approximately 50% in the 2016 election when the moderate Islamist PJD was defeated after a decade in power.\n\nMorocco's recent political landscape has seen the appointment of women in senior roles, including El Mansouri as the first female prime minister. The outgoing government included four women ministers.", "summary": "The incoming government will oversee the final stages of a $20-billion push to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.", "key_points": [ "King Mohammed VI appoints first female PM, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.", "Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) wins most seats in September 23 election.", "El Mansouri's government will address economic challenges and coalition formation." ], "editors_take": null, "illustration": null, "coverage": { "outlets": 10, "also_reported_by": [ { "outlet": "France 24", "title": "🔴 Marrakesh mayor Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri becomes first woman prime minister of Morocco", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/marrakesh-mayor-fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-becomes-first-woman-prime", "published": "2026-09-29T16:09:01.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press", "title": "Morocco’s king appoints the country’s first woman prime minister", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/moroccos-king-appoints-the-countrys-first-woman-prime-minister", "published": "2026-09-29T16:13:43.000Z" }, { "outlet": "The National UAE", "title": "Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri set to be Morocco's first female PM", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/fatima-ezzahra-el-mansouri-set-to-be-moroccos-first-female-pm", "published": "2026-09-29T16:39:47.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News", "title": "Morocco makes history: King appoints first female prime minister", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/morocco-makes-history-king-appoints-first-female-prime-minister", "published": "2026-09-29T16:46:37.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Ajel English", "title": "Fatima-Zahra Mansouri becomes Morocco’s first female prime minister", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/fatima-zahra-mansouri-becomes-moroccos-first-female-prime-minister", "published": "2026-09-29T16:59:42.000Z" }, { "outlet": "BBC World", "title": "First female prime minister named in Morocco after winning elections", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/first-female-prime-minister-named-in-morocco-after-winning-elections", "published": "2026-09-29T17:14:10.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Punch", "title": "Morocco names Fatima El Mansouri first woman PM", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/morocco-names-fatima-el-mansouri-first-woman-pm", "published": "2026-09-29T17:16:52.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News", "title": "Morocco gets first woman prime minister as king appoints Fatima Zahra Mansouri to top post", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/morocco-gets-first-woman-prime-minister-as-king-appoints-fatima-zahra", "published": "2026-09-29T17:39:45.000Z" }, { "outlet": "Business Recorder", "title": "Morocco's king appoints first woman prime minister following election", "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/moroccos-king-appoints-first-woman-prime-minister-following-election", "published": "2026-09-29T18:26:38.000Z" } ] }, "ai_generated": true, "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original." }