Morocco Breaks New Ground as Fatima Zahra El Mansouri Becomes First Female Prime Minister

Morocco has appointed its first female prime minister, marking a significant milestone in the North African kingdom's political history. Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, a 50-year-old lawyer and long-serving mayor of Marrakesh, was named to the position by King Mohammed VI after her centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam) secured the largest number of seats in last week's parliamentary elections.

The appointment makes El Mansouri only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden, who served as prime minister from 2021 to 2023. While Morocco has seen women hold ministerial positions and mayoral offices in recent years, the role of head of government had remained exclusively male since the country gained independence in 1956.

El Mansouri's elevation to the premiership followed a competitive selection process within her own party. King Mohammed VI chose her over Fouzi Lekjaa, the country's football chief and a prominent politician from the same party. The monarch's decision was announced after Pam emerged victorious in the legislative elections, though the party fell short of an outright majority, securing 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.

Under Morocco's constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that finishes first in elections. In the past, this appointment was largely a formality, as most Moroccan parties were led by a single secretary general, making it clear who would be nominated. However, Pam has operated under a collective leadership structure since February 2024, creating an unusual situation where the monarch had to choose between two qualified candidates from the same party. El Mansouri herself acknowledged this dynamic after the results were announced, stating that the final decision rested with the king.

A lawyer by training, El Mansouri studied at Mohammed V University in Rabat before continuing her education in France and the United States, where she specialised in business and corporate law. Her political career began after Pam was founded in 2008, and she made history the following year by becoming the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh. She returned to that post after the 2021 elections, cementing her reputation as one of Morocco's most prominent female politicians.

During the past five years, El Mansouri also served as a minister for national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy under former Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. In February 2024, she became the co-ordinator of Pam's leadership coalition, further elevating her profile within the party hierarchy.

At a victory press conference held before her official appointment, El Mansouri was asked whether the state would need to make changes to accommodate her at Muslim religious ceremonies attended by the king, including Friday and Eid prayers, where men and women pray in separate sections. She declined to answer directly, instead praising the king as "the biggest advocate for women" in the country. "His Majesty is the holder of wisdom," she said. "If I am entrusted with the responsibility of head of government, it will be a great honour."

Despite her groundbreaking achievement, El Mansouri has rarely spoken publicly about women's rights or gender inequality during her political career. This reticence comes amid ongoing debates in Morocco over issues such as whether polygamy should be banned and whether men and women should have equal inheritance rights. Her cautious approach to these sensitive topics reflects the delicate balance between advancing women's representation and navigating the constraints of a political system where ultimate authority rests with the monarch.

El Mansouri has also rejected characterisations of herself as an "iron woman," telling Pam's magazine in 2021: "I am neither a woman of steel nor iron. I am a free activist." The comment suggests a leader who prefers to define herself through her actions and convictions rather than through gendered labels that are often applied to women in positions of power.

Morocco operates as a constitutional monarchy, but most executive power remains concentrated in the hands of the king. The prime minister's role involves implementing policy, managing the government's day-to-day operations and co-ordinating with parliament, though major strategic decisions typically require royal approval. El Mansouri will therefore need to work within this framework while pursuing her party's legislative agenda.

With 97 seats, Pam does not hold a majority and will need to form a coalition to reach the 198 seats required for an absolute majority. The coalition-building process presents significant challenges, as the party has fallen out with the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which led the outgoing government in which Pam was a junior partner. It remains unclear which party Pam will ultimately work with to establish a functioning majority.

The recent election also saw a notable rebound for the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which secured 54 seats, up from only 13 in the previous election. The party's resurgence was buoyed by the return of its leader, Abdelilah Benkirane, a former prime minister. Following the vote, Benkirane stated that the PJD would remain in opposition, refusing any partnership with Pam. This decision further complicates El Mansouri's task of assembling a governing coalition.

El Mansouri's appointment comes at a critical juncture for Morocco, as the country continues to navigate economic challenges, regional diplomatic tensions and debates over social reform. Her ability to build consensus across party lines and deliver on her party's electoral promises will be closely watched both domestically and internationally. As the first woman to lead Morocco's government, she carries the weight of expectations from those who hope her tenure will open new opportunities for women in the country's political landscape.