Morocco Names Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as First Female Prime Minister
In a historic decision, King Mohammed VI appointed 50‑year‑old Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first female prime minister after her Authenticity and Modernity Party won the most seats in the Saturday parliamentary election.
El Mansouri, a lawyer‑turned‑politician who served as mayor of Marrakesh and a minister in Aziz Akhannouch’s cabinet, will now lead a coalition cabinet in a constitutional monarchy in which the king retains key powers.
She follows Tunisian politician Najla Bouden, the only other Arab woman to have led a government, making El Mansouri the second such figure in the region.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party secured 97 seats out of 395, short of a majority; it must therefore negotiate alliances with other parties. The Justice and Development Party, which won 54 seats, declared it would stay in opposition, while discussions continue with potential partners.
During the victory press conference, El Mansouri praised King Mohammed VI as “the biggest advocate for women” and emphasized her respect for Moroccan traditions, including separate prayer sections for men and women.
El Mansouri’s appointment is considered a landmark for gender parity and may influence future political dynamics in Morocco and the wider Arab world.
