Morocco Makes History As Fatima El Mansouri Becomes First Female Prime Minister
By FRANKLIN FRANCIS FREY
MOROCCO has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in the country’s political history.
King Mohammed VI appointed the 50-year-old politician on 29 September after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the most seats in the 23rd September parliamentary election.
However, PAM did not win an outright majority. The party secured 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, far below the 198 required for a majority.
As a result, El Mansouri must now negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government.
She described her appointment as “truly historic.” According to her, having a woman lead the government for the first time was a source of pride for Moroccan women.
The appointment also places Morocco among the Arab countries that have elevated women to the highest level of government leadership. El Mansouri is the third woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden and Tunisia’s current Prime Minister Sara Zaafarani.
At the same time, her rise comes with considerable political experience.
El Mansouri previously served as mayor of Marrakesh and became the first woman to hold that position. She later returned to the municipal leadership after the 2021 elections.
She also served in the national government as minister responsible for national spatial planning, urban development, housing and urban policy.
Her political career therefore stretches from local government to parliament and then the cabinet.
Moreover, her new position comes within Morocco’s constitutional monarchy, where the king retains significant powers. Under Article 47 of the constitution, the monarch appoints the head of government from the political party that wins the most seats in the House of Representatives.
Consequently, El Mansouri’s appointment follows the constitutional process after PAM emerged as the largest party.
Her immediate challenge, however, is coalition-building.
Without enough seats to govern alone, PAM must reach agreements with other parties before El Mansouri can establish a functioning administration.
Beyond the coalition negotiations, the incoming government will face major economic and development responsibilities.
Among them is Morocco’s preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Portugal and Spain. The next government is expected to oversee major infrastructure investments linked to the tournament.
Therefore, El Mansouri’s historic appointment is only the beginning.
She now has to translate an unprecedented political milestone into a workable government while managing coalition negotiations and a major national development agenda.
