In a historic decision for the kingdom and the wider region, King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 3:30 PM local time during an official audience at the Royal Palace in Rabat.
The 50-year-old lawyer and veteran politician, who coordinates the leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was officially charged by the monarch with forming a new coalition government under the provisions of Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution.
The decision follows the legislative elections held on September 23, 2026, in which the PAM secured the top spot by winning 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.
Because the total falls short of the 198-seat majority threshold, Prime Minister-designate El Mansouri must navigate political negotiations with rival parties over the coming weeks to form a functional governing majority.
Following the royal audience, Royal Palace Spokesperson Abdelhak Lamrini issued an official statement confirming the appointment and expressing the monarch’s confidence in El Mansouri’s leadership.
Addressing reporters outside the Royal Palace following her appointment, El Mansouri expressed deep gratitude for the King’s trust, framing her role as a step forward for gender equality in North Africa.
“This appointment is not merely a personal honor, but a profound milestone and a source of pride for every Moroccan woman,” El Mansouri stated.
“We take on this responsibility with dedication to address our national socioeconomic priorities and to build a government that serves all citizens with transparency and performance.” El Mansouri brings significant executive experience to the role.
She made history in 2009 as the first female mayor of Marrakesh, serving again in 2021 before joining the cabinet as the Minister of National Spatial Planning, Urban Development, Housing and Urban Policy.
She becomes the second woman ever to lead a government in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden. As El Mansouri prepares to open preliminary coalition talks in Rabat, main items on her agenda will include reaching consensus with parliamentary allies, including potential talks with the National Gathering of Independents (RNI) and the Istiqlal Party, to hit the 198-seat benchmark needed to confirm her cabinet.
She is also focusing economic development, pushing forward structural economic initiatives, housing updates, and ongoing regional development projects.
Infrastructure Priorities: Managing preparation timelines for co-hosting major international events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Formal consultations between El Mansouri and leaders of Morocco’s political parties are scheduled to begin Thursday at the parliamentary headquarters in Rabat.
