Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female prime minister following her party’s victory in last week’s parliamentary elections.
El Mansouri, 50, is a senior figure in the centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which secured the largest number of seats in the election but fell short of an outright majority.
Her appointment makes her the first woman to serve as head of government in Morocco.
A lawyer by profession, El Mansouri has served as mayor of Marrakesh for several years and was also a minister in the previous coalition government. Her experience within PAM is expected to help her negotiate with other parties as she works to form a governing coalition.
Youth concerns featured prominently in her campaign, with El Mansouri promising to address mounting economic and social pressures affecting young Moroccans.
“Young people are going through a crisis and we must provide them with answers,” she said during the campaign. “We want to restore their hope, not only through speeches, but through concrete solutions.”
Her administration will face pressure to tackle unemployment, the rising cost of living and persistent social inequalities, particularly those affecting younger people.
Youth discontent has become increasingly prominent in Morocco, including a mass border rush towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July and protests led by young people last year.
As prime minister, El Mansouri will also oversee preparations for Morocco’s role as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
She will further be responsible for advancing the government’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, a longstanding and disputed territorial issue.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in which the king retains significant powers, particularly over foreign policy, defence and other strategic areas.
El Mansouri’s appointment therefore comes as Morocco enters a new political phase, with her government expected to balance domestic economic and social demands with the kingdom’s broader national priorities.
