Fatima Zahra El Mansouri Becomes Morocco’s First Woman Prime Minister

King Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as the Prime Minister on 29 September 2026, thus becoming the first woman to serve in this capacity. This happened following the elections of 23 September 2026 in which her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), got the most votes getting 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives. She will be required to form a government and form a parliamentary alliance.

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri’s Prime Minister of Morocco

The appointee is 50 years of age and previously was Morocco’s Minister of National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy and mayor of Marrakech.

She is a senior member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).

This happened because the PAM got the most number of seats in the parliamentary elections in 2026.

According to the Moroccan constitution, the king appoints the leader of the party that wins the election as the head of government. The PAM got 97 seats in the 395 seat house of representatives.

Moroccan Parliament Elections of 2026

On 23 September 2026, Morocco conducted the parliamentary elections to choose members of the House of Representatives. PAM was the leading party, while the RNI won 66 seats and the Istiqlal Party 65 seats. PJD won 54 seats in the elections.

Aspect Details

• Election: Moroccan parliamentary election 2026
• Date of the election: 23 September 2026
• Total Seats in House of Representatives: 395 seats
• Leading Party: Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM)
• Seats for PAM: 97
• Majority Requirement for the Government Formation: 198 seats
• Prime Minister Appointed: Fatima Zahra El Mansouri
• Date of appointment: 29 September 2026

As PAM won less than the majority seats, El Mansouri has been assigned the responsibility of forming a coalition government. Government formation is the next step after the election results’ validation, according to Morocco’s official election portal.

About Fatima Zahra El Mansouri

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri is a Moroccan lawyer and politician who is affiliated with the PAM . Prior to her prime ministership, Fatima also held significant local and national positions.

Among these roles, she acted as mayor of Marrakech and as Minister of National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy since 2021. Her role as a Minister is reflected on the official governmental website of Morocco.

Moreover, her appointment is significant in terms of the women’s political representation in the Arab world. She becomes the second woman to hold a position of prime minister in the Arab world, following Najla Bouden, who was appointed as prime minister of Tunisia in 2021.

Challenges Faced by the New Moroccan Government

The new government will have to deal with economic and social problems, as well as overseeing huge investments, related to Morocco’s readiness to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup together with Spain and Portugal.

The key challenges related to the agenda of the new government are:=

• Combating inflation and high cost of living
• Increasing salaries
• Creating jobs
• Investment
• Development of infrastructure related to the 2030 FIFA World Cup
• Formation of a coalition government with a majority in parliament

PAM had run its campaign on an agenda that included job creation and investment in sectors like health care and wages.

Static Facts Related to Morocco

• Country: Morocco
• Capital: Rabat
• Largest city: Casablanca
• Head of State: King Mohammed VI
• New Head of Government: Fatima Zahra El Mansouri
• Legislature: Parliament of Morocco
• Lower house: House of Representatives
• House of Representatives seats: 395
• Currency: Moroccan dirham
• 2030 FIFA World Cup co-hosts Morocco, Spain and Portugal