King Mohammed VI of Morocco officially appointed Urban Planning Minister Fatima Zahra Mansouri as the nation's prime minister on Tuesday. This decision marks a significant milestone for the Muslim kingdom, as the 50-year-old attorney becomes the first woman to hold the premiership in Morocco. Following the royal decree, the Royal Palace confirmed that Mansouri, who served as the mayor of Marrakech until her nomination, has been charged with the responsibility of forming a new government.
The appointment follows the conclusion of recent parliamentary elections, where Mansouri’s centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured the highest number of votes. Out of 15.8 million registered voters, one million cast their ballots for the PAM, marking the party's first victory since its establishment in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close adviser and childhood friend of the king. Mansouri, who holds a law degree from the University of Montpellier in France, rose to become a top party leader by 2024 and previously served two terms as Marrakech's mayor.
As the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world—following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden—Mansouri faces the immediate challenge of building a viable coalition. Morocco's electoral system historically complicates the ability of any single party to secure an absolute majority. While the PAM has expressed openness to working with all parties, the moderate Islamist Justice and Development party and the left-wing Federation of Democratic Left have indicated they will remain in opposition.
The incoming administration is expected to prioritize several key economic objectives, including the management of multibillion-dollar investments linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, as well as efforts to combat inflation, increase wages, and stimulate job creation. The formation of this government comes against a backdrop of recent domestic challenges, including the Ceuta migration crisis of last July and deadly youth-led protests observed last year.
Mansouri, the daughter of the former “pasha of Marrakech,” Abderrahmane El Mansouri, has previously faced controversy. She denied allegations of conflict of interest regarding land transactions in Marrakech, which were raised by a group of unidentified hackers, and subsequently pursued legal action against the claims, labeling them defamatory. Under the Moroccan Constitution, the king retains the authority to appoint the prime minister, though he is required to select a candidate from the party that wins the most parliamentary seats—a structural change secured by protesters during the 2011 Arab Spring.
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