King Mohammed VI appoints Fatima Ezzahra El-Mansouri as Morocco's first female prime minister

Royal appointment and political milestone

King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El-Mansouri as Morocco's prime minister on 29 September 2026 at the Royal Palace in Rabat. Under Article 47 of the Moroccan constitution, the monarch tasked the 50-year-old lawyer and national coordinator of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) with forming a new cabinet. El-Mansouri, who previously served as housing and urban planning minister as well as mayor of Marrakech, becomes the first female head of government in Morocco and the third in the Arab world following two female prime ministers in Tunisia.

Following her audience with the king, El-Mansouri addressed the public regarding her mandate.

“This is a historic moment. For the first time in the history of our country, a woman assumes the responsibility of the presidency of the Government. This is not an honor only for me, but for all the women of the country.”

Election outcome and parliamentary arithmetic

The appointment follows legislative elections held on 23 September 2026, where the liberal PAM secured first place with 22.13% of the vote. Turnout reached 38%, marking a decline from the 50% recorded in the 2021 parliamentary elections. Because Moroccan electoral rules prevent any single party from winning an outright majority in the 395-seat House of Representatives, the government must be formed through a coalition.

PAM secured 97 seats, outperforming its previous coalition partners. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) finished second with 66 seats, down by 36 seats compared to the previous parliament. The Istiqlal Party (PI) won 65 seats, dropping from 81 seats. The moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) gained 41 seats to finish with 54, while the Left Coalition won 8 seats.

PAM97

RNI66

Istiqlal (PI)65

PJD54

Left Coalition8

PAM

97 seats

RNI

66 seats

Istiqlal (PI)

65 seats

PJD

54 seats

Left Coalition

8 seats

Data from the article text

Coalition consultations and foreign reaction

El-Mansouri opened formal coalition talks in Rabat on 30 September 2026 to negotiate with parliamentary parties. She initiated talks with the RNI and Istiqlal, while holding a phone consultation with PJD secretary-general Abdelilah Benkirane, who confirmed that his party will remain in opposition alongside the Left Coalition. European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica congratulated El-Mansouri on Wednesday, calling Morocco a key and strategic partner for the European Union.

The king chose El-Mansouri over former budget minister and football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, who joined PAM two months prior to the election. Riccardo Fabiani, North Africa director at the International Crisis Group, evaluated the monarch's choice.

“I think they realised that she's the leader of the party and has been doing well and that Lekjaa will not complain if they don't pick him, so they can send an even stronger signal of progress even though the change is cosmetic.”

Economic pressures and tournament preparations

The incoming cabinet confronts substantial economic challenges, including a 37% youth unemployment rate and rising living costs. In 2025, youth demonstrations protested government expenditure on sporting events over public health and education services. Broader economic strain was evident in late July when approximately 70,000 people attempted to reach Spain's Ceuta exclave, leading to more than 140 deaths.

PAM's policy programme pledges to generate one million jobs over five years, exempt monthly salaries below 15,000 dirhams (1,366 euros) from income tax, and set a minimum pension of 3,000 dirhams (273 euros). The administration will also manage a $20 billion infrastructure and stadium construction portfolio for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco is co-hosting alongside Spain and Portugal.