Morocco appoints first woman PM in kingdom's history

Morocco entered a new chapter in its history Tuesday when King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima-Zahra al-Mansouri as prime minister, the first woman to hold the position since the kingdom gained independence. The appointment follows the victory of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in parliamentary elections held September 23.

Al-Mansouri, 50, a lawyer by training and former mayor of Marrakesh, was received at the royal palace in Rabat. According to the royal court's announcement, the king charged her, in accordance with Article 47 of the constitution, with forming the new government. She previously served as minister of national planning, urban development, housing and city policy in the outgoing government.

PAM, identified with the liberal-centrist stream and close to the monarchy, won 97 seats out of 395 in the House of Representatives, a gain of about ten seats compared to 2021. It left behind the outgoing ruling party, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) led by outgoing Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, which dropped to 66 seats.

The Istiqlal party secured 65 seats, and the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) recovered to 54 seats. The achievement is impressive but far from an absolute majority, 198 seats are required. Al-Mansouri now faces complex coalition negotiations. She has stated that she has no "red lines" and that the party is open to dialogue with all forces.

Despite the leadership change, the central power centers remain in the hands of the monarchy. King Mohammed VI continues to hold supreme authority in foreign affairs, security and religion. The new government will focus primarily on domestic economic and social matters.

The challenges are urgent: cost of living, youth employment, improving health and education services, and the massive preparations for hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, a project requiring billions of dollars in investment. Voter turnout in the elections was particularly low, only about 38%.

Al-Mansouri, born in Marrakesh in 1976, holds a law degree from Mohammed V University in Rabat, with further studies in France and the United States. She served as mayor of Marrakesh in two terms (2009-2015 and again from 2021), as a member of parliament, and currently as coordinator of PAM's collegial leadership.

Her appointment makes her the second woman in the Arab world to head a government, after Najla Bouden in Tunisia. Now the eyes of Morocco, and the entire region, are on the coalition negotiations and on how al-Mansouri will lead the first government headed by a woman in the kingdom's history.