Full Breakdown
Morocco Appoints First Female Prime Minister Amid Coalition Hunt
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Historic Appointment
On September 29, 2026, King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s prime minister, the first woman to hold the post in the kingdom and the second in the Arab world after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden. The appointment follows the September 23 parliamentary election in which the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party with 97 of the 395 seats, 31 ahead of the next-closest competitor.
Background & Context
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy where the king selects the head of government from the party that wins the most seats and retains authority over foreign policy, defence and key domestic portfolios. PAM, founded in 2008 by royal adviser Fouad Ali El Himma, positions itself as a centrist, liberal-leaning counterweight to the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD).
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer who studied in Morocco, France and the United States. She was the first woman mayor of Marrakesh in 2009 and later served as minister for national territory planning, urban development, housing and city policy.
Election Results & Data
- Seat distribution (official final results): PAM 97, National Rally of Independents 66, Istiqlal 65, PJD 54, Popular Movement 29, Socialist Union of Popular Forces 26, Party of Progress and Socialism 19, Constitutional Union 17, plus smaller parties.
- Turnout: about 38 %, the lowest in two decades.
- Economic pledges: PAM promises average annual growth of 5 %, inflation of 2 %, and the creation of at least one million jobs over five years.
- World Cup investment: The incoming government will oversee billions of dollars in infrastructure linked to Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Official Statements & Responses
In a televised address, El Mansouri called the appointment “truly historic” and a source of pride for Moroccan women. King Mohammed VI praised women’s advancement, calling himself “the biggest advocate for women” in the country.
El Mansouri later told reporters she would have no “red lines” in coalition talks, emphasizing a willingness to work with any party that can help secure a parliamentary majority.
Criticism & Opposition
Justice and Development Party leader Abdelilah Benkirane announced that the PJD would remain in opposition, rejecting any partnership with PAM and labeling the party “tainted by fraud.” The PJD’s stance narrows El Mansouri’s coalition options to parties such as the Istiqlal Party or smaller centrist groups.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are fully aware that this period will be significant and marked by high expectations from Moroccans, particularly young people,” — Fatima Zahra El Mansouri
- “His Majesty the King received at the Royal Palace in Rabat Ms Fatima Zahra Mansouri, whom His Majesty the King appointed, in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution, as Head of Government and tasked her with forming the new government,” — Morocco’s Ministry
What’s Next
PAM must negotiate with other parties to reach the 198-seat threshold for a governing majority. Once a coalition is secured, El Mansouri will submit a cabinet list to the king for approval. The new administration’s early agenda will focus on finalising World Cup-related infrastructure, delivering on the pledged economic targets, and addressing unemployment and cost-of-living pressures that motivated the low voter turnout.