Morocco has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as its first woman prime minister, marking a historic development in the North African kingdom’s political history.
King Mohammed VI appointed Mansouri, 50, on Tuesday and tasked her with forming the country’s next government. The announcement came just days after parliamentary election results showed her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerging as the largest vote-getter.
Mansouri previously served as Morocco’s urban planning minister and was also the mayor of Marrakech. Following her appointment, she is expected to begin negotiations with other political parties to build a governing coalition.
Coalition Talks Expected to Begin
Morocco’s electoral system makes it difficult for a single political party to secure an outright majority. As a result, Mansouri will likely need to reach agreements with other parties before forming her government.
PAM has indicated that it is open to working with different political groups. However, some parties, including the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party and the left-wing Federation of Democratic Left, have said they will remain in opposition.
Mansouri’s appointment makes her the second woman to serve as prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.
Major Economic Priorities Ahead
The new government is expected to oversee significant investment projects connected to Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
At the same time, Mansouri’s administration will face pressure to address domestic economic concerns. Key priorities are expected to include tackling inflation, increasing wages and creating employment opportunities.
The government will also have to translate election promises into policies while managing the coalition-building process.
Constitutional Role of the King
Under Morocco’s Constitution, the king retains extensive political authority. However, constitutional reforms following the 2011 Arab Spring protests require the monarch to appoint the prime minister from the political party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections.
That requirement represented a change from the previous system, under which the king could appoint a prime minister without being bound by the election results.
With PAM emerging as the leading party in the latest election, Mansouri became eligible for the royal nomination.
Mansouri’s Political Career
Mansouri joined the Authenticity and Modernity Party after it was founded in 2008. She studied law at the University of Montpellier in France and rose to become one of PAM’s leading figures.
She has served twice as mayor of Marrakech and has also held a seat in Parliament. Her political career has included both local government leadership and senior responsibilities within the national administration.
Mansouri is the daughter of Abderrahmane El Mansouri, a former senior Marrakech official who also served as Morocco’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.
She has previously faced allegations concerning potential conflicts of interest related to land transactions in Marrakech. Mansouri rejected those accusations as defamatory and pursued legal action.
PAM’s First Election Victory
The latest parliamentary election represented a significant milestone for PAM, which received about 1 million votes out of 15.8 million registered voters.
The result marked the party’s first electoral victory since its creation.
Following the election and the king’s appointment of Mansouri, attention now turns to the composition of the new government and the coalition negotiations that will determine Morocco’s next political administration.
