Fatima Zahra El Mansouri Appointed Morocco's First Female Prime Minister
El Mansouri, a prominent lawyer and politician, makes history as the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world.
Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has been appointed as Morocco's prime minister, making her the first woman to hold the position in the North African kingdom and only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world. The appointment by King Mohammed VI followed elections where her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam), secured the most seats.
El Mansouri, a lawyer by training, has a notable political career. She was the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh in 2009 and later served as a minister for national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy under the previous government. She also became the co-ordinator of Pam's leadership coalition in February 2024.
During her career, El Mansouri has been described as an activist rather than an "iron woman." While debates continue in Morocco regarding issues such as polygamy and inheritance rights, she has rarely spoken publicly about women's rights or gender inequality.
Under Morocco's constitutional framework, the king selects the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in the election for the House of Representatives. Pam, which won 97 seats, does not hold an absolute majority in the 395-member parliament and will need to form a coalition government. The party has experienced a falling out with the National Rally of Independents (RNI), a partner in the outgoing government.
The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) saw a significant rebound in the election, securing 54 seats. However, the party's leader, Abdelilah Benkirane, has stated that they will remain in opposition and will not partner with Pam.
El Mansouri studied law at Mohammed V University in Rabat and pursued further education in France and the US, specializing in business and corporate law. She entered politics after Pam was founded in 2008.
When asked about potential accommodations for her religious observances as prime minister, El Mansouri praised the king as the country's "biggest advocate for women" without directly addressing the question.