Morocco appoints first female prime minister after parliamentary election

By KPD News Online | September 30, 2026

Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, following the September 23 parliamentary elections in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged with the largest number of seats.

King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on September 29 and tasked her with forming a new government, according to Morocco’s Royal Palace. The appointment makes her the first woman to head Morocco’s government.

Morocco’s first female prime minister appointed

Who is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?

El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer who has held several prominent political positions. She previously served as Morocco’s minister responsible for national planning, urban development, housing and urban policy, and has also served as mayor of Marrakech.

Her appointment also makes her the second woman to serve as a prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served from 2021 to 2023.

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri makes history in Morocco

El Mansouri said her appointment was historic and described it as a source of pride for Moroccan women. Her immediate task will be to negotiate the formation of a new administration and submit the government for royal approval.

Morocco marks historic moment with first woman at the head of government

Challenges ahead

The incoming government will face several major economic and social issues, including employment, inflation and wages. It will also oversee major investment and infrastructure preparations connected to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco’s constitutional system gives the king the authority to appoint the head of government, but the choice must come from the political party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections.

The September election recorded turnout of about 38%, according to Reuters, down from roughly 50% in the previous parliamentary election.

The formation of El Mansouri’s coalition government will now determine the composition of Morocco’s next administration and its policy priorities.