King Mohammed VI names Fatima Zahra Mansouri as Morocco's first woman prime minister

Appointment at the Royal Palace

King Mohammed VI officially appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's prime minister on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, receiving her at the Royal Palace in Rabat. Under the Moroccan constitution, the monarch selects the head of government from the political party securing the most seats in legislative elections. Mansouri, 50, coordinates the collegiate leadership of the centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and succeeds outgoing prime minister Aziz Akhannouch. Her appointment makes her the first woman to lead a government in Morocco since the country gained independence. Across the Arab world, she becomes the second woman to serve as prime minister, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden.

Mansouri spoke to public media following the royal reception to describe the milestone.

For the first time in our country's history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government. This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women.

Parliamentary election results and coalition talks

The royal designation followed the parliamentary vote held on September 23, 2026, where PAM won 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives. PAM finished 31 seats ahead of its nearest rival, Akhannouch's National Rally of Independents (RNI), which dropped to 66 seats after losing 36 seats compared to the previous election. The nationalist Istiqlal Party finished third with 65 seats, recording a loss of 16 seats. Voter turnout reached 38%, standing as the lowest participation level in Moroccan legislative elections in nearly two decades. Without an absolute majority of 198 seats, Mansouri must assemble a governing coalition to secure a parliamentary majority for the 2026–2031 legislative term.

Political background and trajectory

Mansouri is a trained lawyer who entered politics during the foundation of PAM in 2008 by royal adviser Fouad Ali El Himma, who later stepped down from the party in 2011. In 2009, at age 33, she became the first female mayor of Marrakesh, serving a six-year term before winning re-election to the municipal office in 2021. Alongside her municipal duties, she entered the national cabinet as Minister of National Territory, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy within the outgoing coalition government. She solidified her political influence within PAM by 2024 as national coordinator of its collective leadership body before winning re-election as a member of parliament on September 23.

Economic agenda and governing challenges

Mansouri takes executive office confronting public concerns over high youth unemployment, widening social inequality, and economic mobility. Frustrations over economic prospects re-emerged in late July when large groups of young migrants attempted to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The incoming administration is tasked with containing inflation, raising wages, creating domestic employment, and managing multi-billion dollar infrastructure outlays for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. While Morocco's constitution reserves broad strategic sectors to the monarch, Mansouri committed her government to delivering tangible economic responses.

We are fully aware that this period will be significant and marked by high expectations from Moroccans, particularly young people. That is why we will have a program offering concrete and realistic solutions to citizens' concerns.