On September 29, 2026, King Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the head of the Moroccan government, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this position. According to a statement from the Ministry of the Royal House, Protocol, and Chancellery, El Mansouri was tasked with forming a new executive. This appointment follows her role as coordinator of the collective leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
El Mansouri, 50, is an attorney specializing in land and real estate law. Her political career includes serving as the mayor of Marrakech from 2009 to 2015 and again starting in 2021. She has also held several parliamentary mandates and served as the minister of national territorial planning, urban planning, housing, and city policy from 2021 to 2026. As a founding member of the PAM, created in 2008, El Mansouri has been coordinating the party's collective leadership since 2024.
The appointment comes after the September 23 legislative elections, where the PAM secured 97 seats out of 395 in the House of Representatives, making it the leading party. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Istiqlal Party followed with 66 and 65 seats, respectively. With the PAM not having an absolute majority, El Mansouri will need to engage in consultations to form a parliamentary coalition and propose the composition of the next executive to the king.
Before her appointment, El Mansouri was received by King Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Rabat, in accordance with Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution. This process officially began the phase of forming the new government. El Mansouri expressed her commitment to proposing "a government that meets the expectations" of the king and the citizens.
As the first female head of government in Morocco, El Mansouri's appointment signifies a significant step towards gender representation in the country's leadership. Her experience in various roles, including her tenure as mayor and minister, is expected to shape her approach to forming the new government and addressing the country's challenges.
El Mansouri's task will involve negotiating with other parties to secure a coalition that can support her government's agenda. Given the PAM's position as the leading party, she will likely play a crucial role in determining the future direction of Moroccan politics and policy.
The new government's formation and its policy priorities will be closely watched, both domestically and internationally, as Morocco continues to navigate its economic and social development. El Mansouri's leadership will be pivotal in this process, as she works to meet the expectations of the king, citizens, and the international community.
Key points
- Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is the first woman to be appointed as the head of the Moroccan government.
- The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 seats in the House of Representatives, making it the leading party after the September 23 legislative elections.
- El Mansouri's appointment marks a significant milestone in Morocco's progress towards gender representation in leadership positions.
