Rabat – October 1, 2026

For the first time in Morocco’s political history, a woman has been appointed to lead the country’s government.

King Mohammed VI has appointed lawyer and longstanding politician Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s new Head of Government.

In Morocco, the official title of the position is “Head of Government”. International news reports generally refer to it as the equivalent of prime minister.

Meeting El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in the capital, Rabat, on September 29, 2026, King Mohammed VI appointed her Head of Government under Article 47 of the Constitution and tasked her with forming a new cabinet.

With this appointment, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has become the first woman in Morocco’s history to lead its government.

Appointment Following the Election Victory

The appointment follows Morocco’s parliamentary election held on September 23, 2026.

The Authenticity and Modernity Party, known as PAM, in which El Mansouri holds a senior leadership role, finished first with 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.

The National Rally of Independents (RNI) won 66 seats, the Istiqlal Party 65, and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) 54.

No party secured the majority needed to form a government on its own.

The new prime minister must therefore negotiate with other political parties to form a coalition government.

A simple majority in the 395-member House of Representatives requires the support of at least 198 members. With only 97 seats, PAM needs the backing of other parties to form a government under its leadership.

Why Did the King Appoint Her?

Under Morocco’s Constitution, the king does not choose a prime minister from any party at his discretion.

Following the constitutional reforms introduced in 2011, the Head of Government must be appointed from the political party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives election.

Accordingly, after PAM finished first in the 2026 election, King Mohammed VI appointed one of its leading figures, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, as Head of Government.

Her appointment is therefore part of a constitutional process directly linked to the outcome of the 2026 parliamentary election, rather than simply an individual appointment.

Who Is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?

Born in Marrakech in 1976, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri trained in law.

She studied law at the University of Montpellier in France and subsequently worked as a lawyer.

After entering politics, she became one of the leading political figures in the Authenticity and Modernity Party, PAM.

In 2009, she was elected mayor of Marrakech, becoming the first woman to hold that office in the city.

She held the position until 2015 and returned as mayor following the local elections in 2021.

El Mansouri also has national cabinet experience, having served as minister responsible for national planning, urban planning, housing and urban policy.

Since 2024, she has been one of the leading figures guiding PAM’s collective leadership.

She now brings this political and administrative experience to Morocco’s highest government office.

A Historic Turn in Women’s Political Representation

Although women’s participation in Morocco’s government has gradually increased over recent decades, the position of Head of Government had until now been held by men.

In 1997, women were appointed as secretaries of state in Morocco’s government for the first time.

Women’s participation subsequently increased in roles including ministers, secretaries of state, members of parliament, mayors and leaders of public institutions.

The appointment of a woman to lead the government now marks a significant change in Morocco’s political history.

The Powers of the Monarchy and Government

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy.

Although it has an elected parliament and government, the king retains substantial authority within the country’s political system.

He holds important powers in areas including defence, foreign relations and certain major public institutions.

At the same time, the Head of Government plays a key role in the cabinet’s daily work, government policy, administration and the implementation of economic programmes.

While El Mansouri’s appointment is historic, understanding Morocco’s political system requires considering the powers of the elected government and the constitutional powers of the monarchy separately.

Challenges Facing the New Government

After forming a new government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri will face significant economic and social challenges.

Youth unemployment, the cost of living, inflation, wages, housing, education and public healthcare are prominent issues in Moroccan political debate.

Morocco is also undertaking major infrastructure investment in preparation for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

With substantial investment in transport, stadiums, tourism facilities and urban infrastructure, an El Mansouri-led government will take office during an important period for managing these projects.

Voter turnout of only approximately 38 per cent in the 2026 parliamentary election presents another political challenge for the new government.

Building public confidence in political institutions and responding to young people’s economic and social expectations will be among its important tasks.

A Coalition Government Must Come First

Although El Mansouri has been appointed, the full cabinet of the new government has yet to be formed.

As PAM does not have an outright majority, the next important political stage will determine which parties join the coalition and how ministerial responsibilities are shared.

The structure of the new government will become clearer once coalition negotiations are concluded.

A woman assuming Morocco’s Head of Government role for the first time marks a notable event in the country’s political history.

Having begun her professional life as a lawyer and progressed through roles as mayor of Marrakech, minister and party leader, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri has now made history as the first woman appointed to lead Morocco’s government.