King Mohammed VI of Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first woman prime minister. This appointment comes after her liberal-centrist party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), emerged as the top party in the September 23 parliamentary election. The royal palace announced the appointment on Tuesday, with the king asking El Mansouri to form a new government.
El Mansouri's PAM party was created in 2008 by an adviser to the king and has positioned itself as a counterweight to the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD). The party advocates for social modernization and secular-leaning views. In the recent election, PAM won 97 seats, making it the largest party in the House of Representatives. This victory paved the way for El Mansouri's appointment as prime minister.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy where the king retains significant powers over foreign policy, defense, and other key portfolios. According to the constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. El Mansouri, a lawyer and former housing minister, will lead talks to form a coalition government and submit a list of cabinet members for the king's approval.
The incoming government will oversee the final stages of a $20-billion push to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain. The government will also implement economic policies aimed at addressing widespread youth discontent, highlighted by a mass border rush on the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July and deadly Gen-Z-led protests last year.
El Mansouri's appointment marks a significant milestone for women's representation in Moroccan politics. In recent years, King Mohammed VI has appointed female advisers and Morocco has had women in senior institutional roles. The outgoing government had four women ministers. El Mansouri's PAM party had ruled out staying in a coalition with the National Rally of Independents (RNI), but El Mansouri has stated she has no "red lines" when it comes to negotiations.
The election results saw PAM's partners in the outgoing government, the RNI, secure 66 seats, followed by the conservative nationalist Istiqlal with 65 seats. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), led by former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane, won 54 seats and will stay in opposition. Three leftist parties took smaller shares of the seats.
El Mansouri will face the challenge of forming a coalition government and addressing the country's pressing issues, including youth discontent and economic policy. With her appointment, Morocco takes a step towards greater representation of women in politics, and El Mansouri's leadership will be closely watched in the coming months.
Key points
- King Mohammed VI appoints Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first woman prime minister.
- El Mansouri's PAM party won 97 seats in the September 23 parliamentary election.
- The incoming government will oversee the final stages of a $20-billion push to prepare for the 2030 World Cup.
