Morocco’s first female prime minister takes office
In the early hours of 24 September 2026, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri—an experienced lawyer and veteran mayor of Marrakesh—was announced by King Mohammed VI as the country’s new prime minister. The decision follows the Authenticity and Modernity Party’s (Pam) landslide win in the parliamentary elections.
El Mansouri’s appointment makes her the second Arab woman ever to lead a government, after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden. She was chosen over football chief Fouzi Lekjaa and is the first woman to hold Morocco’s highest executive post.
The king’s choice comes at a time when Morocco’s constitution concentrates most executive power in the monarch’s hands. Although the PM must form a majority coalition to govern, the king formally appoints the head of government from the party that finishes first in the House of Representatives.
Pam won 97 of the 395 seats, falling short of the 198 needed for an outright majority. The new prime minister will need to court other parties, including the Islamist Justice and Development Party, which returned with 54 seats after a dramatic revival.
El Mansouri, who studied law at Mohammed V University before furthering her studies in France and the US, has long been a prominent figure in Moroccan politics. She became the city’s first female mayor in 2009, served as minister of national territory planning, urban planning and housing, and was elected co‑ordinator of Pam’s collective leadership in 2024.
When asked about balancing her new role with traditional religious ceremonies, she praised the king as “the biggest advocate for women” and promised to bring wisdom to the nation’s leadership.
El Mansouri’s rise reflects both Morocco’s continuing modernization and the ongoing debate over women’s rights, including challenges over polygamy and inheritance laws. Her tenure will be closely watched for any shifts in policy or cultural norms.
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