- Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Tasked with Forming New Government as Morocco Advances Modernisation and 2030 World Cup Agenda
RABAT: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman Head of Government, entrusting her with the formation of a new government following the September 23 parliamentary elections.
The historic appointment was announced by Morocco’s Royal Palace on Tuesday after King Mohammed VI received El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat. The King appointed her under Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution and tasked her with forming the new government.
El Mansouri, 50, previously served as Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy and twice served as mayor of Marrakech. A lawyer by profession, she has also held parliamentary responsibilities and emerged as one of the leading figures of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
Her appointment follows PAM’s first-place finish in the recent parliamentary elections, in which the party secured 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The result means that El Mansouri will need to build a governing coalition, as PAM does not hold an outright parliamentary majority.
The appointment represents a landmark moment for Moroccan women in public life. El Mansouri is 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.
Leadership at a Strategic Moment
El Mansouri takes charge at a significant stage in Morocco’s national development, with the Kingdom pursuing major economic, infrastructure and social programmes under the strategic direction of King Mohammed VI.
Among the new government’s major priorities will be preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain. Billions of dollars in planned investment are expected to support infrastructure, transport, tourism, hospitality and other sectors associated with the tournament.
The incoming administration will also face important domestic priorities, including employment, inflation, wages and economic opportunities for young Moroccans.
Building a New Governing Coalition
El Mansouri’s immediate political task will be to negotiate the formation of a governing coalition. PAM has indicated its willingness to work with other political forces, while some parties, including the Justice and Development Party and the Federation of Democratic Left, have indicated that they intend to remain in opposition.
Under Article 47 of Morocco’s Constitution, the Head of Government is appointed by the King from the political party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. The constitutional framework was strengthened through the reforms adopted in 2011.
El Mansouri’s rise to the head of government adds another historic chapter to Morocco’s political development and comes as the Kingdom prepares for major international engagements, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while continuing its broader programmes of economic development, infrastructure modernisation and social reform.
BY: The Times Union
