Morocco – El Mansouri, the first woman appointed to head the government

Morocco will have a woman at the head of its government for the first time in its history, according to Reuters.

King Mohammed VI today appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as head of government and tasked her with forming the new government.

El Mansouri, 50, is one of the leaders of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which came first in the parliamentary elections of September 23.

PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. Behind it ranked the National Rally of Independents, with 66 seats, and the Istiqlal Party, with 65 seats.

However, PAM does not have enough deputies to govern alone. For this reason, El Mansouri must talk with the other parties and create a governing coalition — an agreement with other parties to secure a majority in parliament.

After her appointment, El Mansouri said she felt honored by the trust given to her and that she would begin consultations with her party and other political forces to form the government. She said the new government aims to offer practical and realistic solutions, especially for the problems and expectations of young people.

Who is Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri?

El Mansouri is a jurist — she studied and practiced law. She previously served as mayor of Marrakech and, since 2021, has been the minister responsible for territorial planning, urbanism and housing. Her appointment is historic because she becomes the first woman in Morocco’s history to lead the government.