Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as the country’s new Head of Government, making her the first woman to hold the position in Morocco.
Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer and senior member of Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). Before her appointment, she served as Minister of National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy and was also mayor of Marrakech.
The Royal Palace said King Mohammed VI has tasked Mansouri with forming a new government following Morocco’s recent parliamentary elections.
PAM emerged as the largest party in the election, winning 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives. However, the party does not have enough seats to govern alone, meaning Mansouri will need to work with other political parties to form a coalition government.
Mansouri has been active in Moroccan politics for several years. She joined PAM after its establishment in 2008 and has served twice as mayor of Marrakech. She has also served as a member of parliament and held a senior ministerial position.
Her appointment marks a significant moment in Morocco’s political history and makes her one of the few women to head a government in the Arab world.
The new government is expected to face challenges involving employment, wages, inflation and economic development. Morocco is also preparing for major infrastructure and investment projects linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
Mansouri will now begin consultations to form the new government. The final composition of the cabinet is expected to be announced after coalition discussions.
Note: Morocco’s constitutional term is “Head of Government,” although the position is commonly described internationally as prime minister.
