King Mohammed VI of Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first female prime minister, making her only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world, according to Al Jazeera and the BBC. The appointment was announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Ms. El Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured the most seats in parliamentary elections held last week. She has been tasked with forming a new government, Al Jazeera reported.

"For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government," Ms. El Mansouri said, according to Al Jazeera. "This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women."

Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri's Background and Political Career

Ms. El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer by training. She was born in Marrakesh in 1976, according to Al Jazeera. Her education included studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat, followed by further education in France and the United States. She obtained a diploma in advanced studies from the University of Montpellier in France and a diploma in Anglo-Saxon business law from New York University in the US, specializing in business and corporate law, according to Al Jazeera and the BBC.

She entered politics after PAM was founded in 2008, the BBC reported. In 2009, she became the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh. She returned to lead the Marrakesh municipal council after the 2021 elections, Al Jazeera stated. Ms. El Mansouri has also accumulated parliamentary experience, having been elected as a member of the House of Representatives over successive terms, according to Al Jazeera.

In October 2021, she moved into national government, serving as a minister in the previous coalition government, according to the BBC. Al Jazeera specified her role as Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy. During her tenure, this portfolio was associated with several key initiatives, including the direct housing support programme, reforms linked to urban planning and spatial development, and rehousing those affected by the Al Haouz earthquake, Al Jazeera reported.

The BBC noted that Ms. El Mansouri has rejected being portrayed as an "iron woman." In 2021, she told PAM's magazine, "I am neither a woman of steel nor iron... I am a free activist." The BBC also reported that she has rarely spoken publicly about women's rights or gender inequality, despite ongoing debates in Morocco over issues such as whether polygamy should be banned and whether men and women should have equal inheritance rights.

At a victory press conference prior to her appointment as prime minister, Ms. El Mansouri was asked whether the state would need to make changes to accommodate her in Muslim religious ceremonies attended by the king, including Friday and Eid prayers, where men and women typically pray in separate sections. She did not directly answer the question, instead praising King Mohammed VI as "the biggest advocate for women" in the country, according to the BBC.

"His Majesty is the holder of wisdom… If I am entrusted with the responsibility of head of government, it will be a great honour," she said, according to the BBC.

Electoral Outcome and Political System

PAM, described by Al Jazeera as monarchy-aligned, won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, Morocco's lower house of parliament, in last week's elections, according to both Al Jazeera and the BBC. This figure falls short of the 198 seats required for an absolute majority, meaning Ms. El Mansouri will need to form a coalition to govern, Al Jazeera reported.

Morocco operates as a constitutional monarchy, but most power remains in the hands of the king, the BBC explained. Under the country's constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that secures the most seats in elections to the House of Representatives, the BBC added.

King Mohammed VI chose Ms. El Mansouri over Fouzi Lekjaa, a top politician from PAM and the country's football chief, the BBC reported. After the election results were announced last week, Ms. El Mansouri stated that the decision ultimately rested with the king to choose between her and Mr. Lekjaa, according to the BBC.

In the past, the appointment of the prime minister was largely a formality, as most Moroccan parties were led by a single secretary general, making it clear who would be nominated to head the government. However, PAM has been led by a collective leadership since February 2024, rather than a single secretary general, the BBC noted.

Historical Context and Future Challenges

Ms. El Mansouri's appointment marks a significant moment as she becomes only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world. The first was Najla Bouden of Tunisia, who served as prime minister from October 2021 to August 2023, according to Al Jazeera and the BBC.

PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend of the king, Al Jazeera reported. The party has expressed its willingness to work with all parties to form a coalition, Al Jazeera stated. However, Ms. El Mansouri's primary task will be to negotiate this coalition, as PAM's 97 seats are well below the 198 needed for an outright majority.

The BBC reported that it is unclear which party PAM will partner with, as it has had disagreements with the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which led the outgoing government and in which PAM was a junior partner. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) rebounded in the elections, securing 54 seats, up from only 13 in the previous election, buoyed by the return of party leader and former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane, according to the BBC. However, both the BBC and Al Jazeera reported that Mr. Benkirane has stated the PJD would remain in opposition, refusing a partnership with PAM.

The new governing coalition will be responsible for deciding the allocation of billions of dollars in investments ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco is scheduled to primarily host alongside Portugal and Spain, Al Jazeera reported.