King Mohammed VI Appoints Morocco's First Female Prime Minister

King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first woman prime minister on Tuesday. The appointment follows the September 23 parliamentary elections, where El Mansouri's center-right Authenticity and Modernity Party won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives.

Because the Authenticity and Modernity Party lacks an outright majority, El Mansouri must form a coalition government. The National Rally of Independents secured 66 seats, while the Istiqlal party took 65. The Justice and Development Party, which won 54 seats, refused to join the coalition. Abdelilah Benkirane, chief of the Justice and Development Party, claimed the victory was tainted by fraud.

The new administration faces immediate pressure to address high unemployment, rising living costs, and social disparities. El Mansouri has emphasized the need for concrete solutions for youth, stating that "young people are going through a crisis and we must provide them with answers."

Legislative results also marked a historic increase in female representation, with a record 107 women elected to the House of Representatives. While 90 of these seats were filled via a reserved quota, 17 women won directly in local constituencies, nearly tripling the six direct wins recorded in 2021. The government is also preparing major investments for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.