Fatima Zahra Mansouri Becomes Morocco’s First Female Prime Minister

Fatima Zahra Mansouri has become Morocco’s first female prime minister after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 of the 395 seats in the parliamentary election. King Mohammed VI has tasked her with forming a coalition government, as PAM does not hold a majority. Mansouri faces major challenges including youth unemployment, rising living costs, public services and preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Her appointment marks a historic milestone for women in Moroccan politics.

MOROCCO APPOINTS FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD GOVERNMENT

Morocco has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as its first female prime minister, marking a historic moment in the country's political history.
King Mohammed VI appointed Mansouri on Tuesday, September 29, and tasked her with forming the next government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in last week's parliamentary election.
The appointment makes Mansouri the second woman in the Arab world to serve as head of government, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden, who was prime minister from 2021 to 2023.
Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer and experienced politician who previously served as mayor of Marrakesh and as Morocco's minister responsible for housing and urban development.

PAM WINS MOST SEATS BUT FALLS SHORT OF A MAJORITY

Mansouri's appointment followed parliamentary elections held on September 23.
Her PAM party won 97 of the 395 seats in Morocco's House of Representatives, finishing ahead of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which won 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party, which secured 65.
The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) also made a significant comeback, winning 54 seats after taking only 13 in the 2021 election.
PAM's 97 seats, however, are far short of the 198 needed for an outright majority. Mansouri must therefore negotiate with other parties to form a coalition capable of supporting her government.
PAM has indicated that it is prepared to work with different political parties, although some opposition groups have already said they intend to remain outside the government.

LOW TURNOUT HIGHLIGHTS POLITICAL DISENGAGEMENT

The election produced a clear parliamentary winner but was also marked by low voter participation.
Only about 38.02 per cent of registered voters took part, compared with 50.35 per cent in the 2021 election.
The decline has raised questions about public confidence in political institutions, particularly among younger Moroccans.
Youth unemployment, rising living costs, access to healthcare and education and the availability of well-paid jobs have been among the major concerns highlighted during the election campaign.
The new government will therefore have to deal not only with coalition negotiations but also with efforts to address dissatisfaction among citizens who feel that economic growth has not translated into enough opportunities.

WHO IS FATIMA ZAHRA MANSOURI?

Mansouri's political career began in Marrakesh, where she became the city's first female mayor when she was elected in 2009.
She served as mayor for six years before returning to the position in 2021.
She entered national politics after joining PAM, a party founded in 2008, and later became a member of parliament.
Mansouri also served in the outgoing government as minister responsible for national planning, urban development, housing and city policy.
In 2024, she became one of the three national leaders of PAM, placing her among the party's most influential figures.
Her long experience in local government and national politics has now put her at the centre of Morocco's political system.

MANSOURI FACES HIGH EXPECTATIONS FROM YOUNG MOROCCANS

Mansouri takes office at a time when Morocco is facing growing pressure to improve economic opportunities for young people.
Youth unemployment has been a major political concern, while recent youth-led protests have highlighted dissatisfaction over employment, healthcare, education and living costs.
During the election campaign, Mansouri acknowledged the difficulties facing young people and said the next government would need to provide practical solutions rather than simply political promises.
Her government is expected to focus on issues including inflation, wages, employment and public services.
PAM's election programme included a promise to create one million jobs over five years, alongside increased investment in healthcare and education.

2030 WORLD CUP WILL BE A MAJOR TEST

One of Mansouri's biggest responsibilities will be overseeing the final phase of Morocco's preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Morocco is undertaking billions of dollars in infrastructure and development projects linked to the tournament, including investments in stadiums, transport, tourism and other facilities.
Reuters estimates that the country is overseeing about $20 billion in development linked to the wider World Cup preparations.
The scale of the projects means the new government will be under pressure to ensure that the investment delivers long-term benefits while managing public spending.
MOROCCO'S KING RETAINS SIGNIFICANT POWER
Although Mansouri will head the government, Morocco's political system gives the king substantial authority over major areas of national policy.
Under the constitution, the king appoints the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections.
The monarch also retains significant influence over areas including defence, foreign affairs and other strategic national policies.
Mansouri will therefore lead the government and oversee its day-to-day political and economic programme, but her administration will operate within a system in which the monarchy remains highly influential.

COALITION TALKS WILL SHAPE THE NEW GOVERNMENT

Because PAM won only 97 seats, Mansouri cannot govern alone.
She will have to negotiate with other parties to secure enough parliamentary support for her government.
RNI and Istiqlal are among the parties that could become important coalition partners, while the PJD has indicated that it intends to remain in opposition.
The composition of the new government will therefore depend heavily on coalition negotiations in the coming weeks.

A HISTORIC MOMENT WITH HEAVY RESPONSIBILITIES

Mansouri's appointment represents a significant milestone for women's political representation in Morocco.
However, the historic nature of her appointment comes with substantial political and economic responsibilities.
She must build a functioning coalition, respond to concerns over jobs and living costs, manage major infrastructure spending and help oversee Morocco's preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
Her government will also have to confront the challenge of restoring confidence among citizens, particularly young people, at a time when election turnout has fallen sharply.
For Mansouri, becoming Morocco's first female prime minister is therefore both a historic achievement and the beginning of a demanding political chapter.