Morocco has made history with the appointment of Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister. King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on Tuesday, following her party's victory in the parliamentary election. Her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 out of 395 seats, making it the largest party in the parliament. El Mansouri expressed her pride and gratitude, saying it was a historic moment not only for her but for all Moroccan women.
El Mansouri's rise to power began long before her appointment as prime minister. She joined the PAM in 2008, when it was founded by Fouad Ali El Himma. Abdellah Tourabi, a Moroccan journalist and analyst, described El Mansouri as part of the party's original core, saying she has been with the party from the start. Her trilingual background and education in law in the United States and France's University of Montpellier have equipped her with the skills to take on the role.
El Mansouri's first major breakthrough came in 2009 when she became the first female mayor of Marrakesh at the age of 33. Despite her educational background in French schools, she initially had a poor command of Arabic when she entered politics. However, she has continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a minister in the outgoing prime minister Aziz Akhannouch's government and getting elected to parliament in the recent vote.
El Mansouri's appointment as prime minister comes at a time when Morocco is facing challenges, including low voter turnout and youth discontent. The recent election saw a record-low voter turnout of 38 percent, down from 50 percent five years ago. Deadly protests led by young Moroccans and a mass border rush on the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July highlighted the need for the government to address youth concerns.
El Mansouri's party, PAM, campaigned on a platform of creating at least a million jobs, achieving average annual economic growth of 5 percent, and keeping inflation at 2 percent. She acknowledged that public policy had fallen short of young people's expectations and that the party was aware of the high expectations from Moroccans, especially the youth. El Mansouri will have to navigate coalition negotiations to form a government, as PAM does not have enough seats to govern alone.
As El Mansouri takes office, she will have to balance the demands of her party's platform with the needs of the Moroccan people. Her rise to power is seen as a significant step forward for women's representation in Moroccan politics. Despite the challenges ahead, El Mansouri expressed her commitment to leading the government and addressing the concerns of the Moroccan people.
El Mansouri's appointment has been hailed as a historic moment for Morocco, and she will remain mayor of Marrakesh until municipal elections scheduled for 2027. Her parliamentary seat will pass to the next candidate on her list. As she begins her tenure as prime minister, El Mansouri will have to work towards achieving her party's goals and addressing the challenges facing Morocco.
Key points
- Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri becomes Morocco's first female prime minister after her party wins the parliamentary election.
- El Mansouri's party, PAM, won 97 out of 395 seats in the parliamentary election.
- El Mansouri faces challenges, including low voter turnout and youth discontent, as she takes office as prime minister.
