Fatima El Mansouri has become Morocco’s first woman prime minister after King Mohammed VI appointed her as the country’s Head of Government on 29 September 2026. Her appointment followed Morocco’s parliamentary election held on 23 September, in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party with 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.

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The appointment marks a significant change in Morocco’s political history. El Mansouri, a 50-year-old lawyer and politician, has previously served as mayor of Marrakesh and as minister responsible for national territory planning, housing and urban policy. She has now been asked to form the country’s new government.

Fatima El Mansouri Appointed by King Mohammed VI

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in North Africa, where the king has an important role in the country’s political system. Following the parliamentary election, King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri to lead the government after PAM secured the largest number of seats.

The Moroccan Interior Ministry confirmed that the final results of the 23 September legislative election matched the provisional results. PAM won 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents with 66 seats, Istiqlal with 65 seats and the Justice and Development Party with 54 seats.

Because no party won the 198 seats needed for a majority in the 395-member House of Representatives, the new government will need support from other political parties. El Mansouri is therefore expected to work on forming a coalition government.

Morocco Gets Its First Woman Prime Minister

El Mansouri’s appointment makes her the first woman to serve as Morocco’s prime minister. She is also the second woman to hold the position of prime minister in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden, who served from 2021 to 2023.

The appointment has attracted attention across Morocco and the wider Arab region because women have historically held a limited number of top executive positions in national governments.

Her new position comes after years of public service at both the local and national levels. Her experience in Marrakesh and in the housing and urban planning ministry has been part of her political career before reaching the country’s highest government office.

From Marrakesh Mayor to Prime Minister

Before becoming prime minister, El Mansouri was closely associated with Marrakesh, one of Morocco’s best-known cities. She served as its mayor and was also involved in national government as a minister dealing with territorial planning, urban development, housing and city policy.

Her background in law also forms an important part of her professional career. Her experience in local administration and national policymaking now comes as she takes responsibility for forming and leading a new government.

The transition from city-level administration to the national government gives her experience in areas such as urban development, public administration and housing policy.

PAM Wins the Largest Number of Seats

The appointment followed the legislative election of 23 September 2026. PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, making it the largest party in the new parliament. The official final results confirmed the same seat distribution announced earlier.

However, 97 seats are well below the 198 needed for a majority. This means that forming the new government requires cooperation with other parties represented in parliament.

The other major parties include the National Rally of Independents with 66 seats, Istiqlal with 65 and the Justice and Development Party with 54. Several smaller parties also won seats and could form part of the parliamentary discussions around the new government.

New Government Faces Important Priorities

El Mansouri’s government will take charge at an important time for Morocco. One of the major tasks ahead is preparing the country for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

The preparations involve major infrastructure and development projects across the country. The new administration will also have to manage wider economic and social issues, including employment, public services and investment.

The new government’s formation will therefore be closely watched as Morocco moves towards the 2030 World Cup and continues work on national development projects.

Coalition Building Becomes Important

Since PAM does not have a majority on its own, coalition-building will be an important early task for El Mansouri. The prime minister must bring together enough parliamentary support to establish a functioning government.

Morocco’s parliamentary system requires cooperation among political parties when no single party has enough seats to govern alone. The new administration will therefore involve discussions over government formation and the distribution of responsibilities among coalition partners.

El Mansouri’s ability to build a parliamentary majority will be an important part of the early phase of her premiership.

Women’s Representation in Arab Politics

El Mansouri’s appointment also brings attention to the role of women in Arab political institutions. Before her appointment, Tunisia’s Najla Bouden had been the only woman to serve as prime minister in an Arab country.

Morocco has had women serving as ministers and in other senior public positions, but the appointment of El Mansouri places a woman at the head of the national government for the first time.

Her appointment follows a wider increase in the participation of women in Morocco’s political institutions. Four women had served in the previous Moroccan cabinet, according to reporting following the appointment.

Morocco’s Political System

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in North Africa. King Mohammed VI is the country’s monarch, while the Head of Government leads the cabinet and oversees the administration of government affairs.

The Moroccan parliament has two chambers, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. The 2026 election determined the composition of its 395 seats.

The constitutional system gives the king the authority to appoint the Head of Government from the party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. Following PAM’s victory with 97 seats, El Mansouri was appointed to form the new government.

A New Chapter for Morocco’s Government

Fatima El Mansouri’s appointment brings a new phase to Morocco’s political landscape following the September 2026 parliamentary election. Her immediate task is to form a government with sufficient parliamentary support and begin work on the priorities of the new administration.

Her role will also place her at the centre of Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup and other national development programmes. As Morocco’s first woman prime minister and the second woman prime minister in the Arab world, her appointment has become a major political development in North Africa.