Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, marking a major milestone in Morocco’s political history.
El Mansouri, 50, was appointed on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, and was tasked with forming a new government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in the country’s September 23 parliamentary election. PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives.
The appointment makes El Mansouri only the second woman to serve as a prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who held the position from 2021 to 2023.
El Mansouri is a lawyer by training and has previously served as Morocco’s Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy. She has also twice served as mayor of Marrakech and has been a member of Parliament.
Following her appointment, El Mansouri said she would immediately begin consultations with her party and other political groups to form a new government. PAM does not have enough seats to govern alone, meaning coalition negotiations will be necessary before the new administration can take shape.
The National Rally of Independents (RNI) came second with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65 seats. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), meanwhile, won 54 seats and has indicated that it will remain in opposition.
El Mansouri’s new government will face several major challenges, including economic pressures, youth unemployment and concerns over the cost of living. It will also oversee preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal and which is expected to involve significant public and private investment.
Her appointment also represents a significant development in women’s political representation in Morocco. The outgoing government included four women ministers, while El Mansouri’s career has included senior positions at both the local and national levels.
As coalition talks begin, El Mansouri will have to assemble a governing majority and present a proposed cabinet for royal approval. The formation of the new government is expected to determine how her administration approaches Morocco’s economic priorities and preparations for the country’s growing international responsibilities.