Morocco will be led by a woman for the first time in its history. King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as Prime Minister, who previously held the position of Minister of Urban Planning and was also the Mayor of Marrakech. The 50-year-old lawyer has been tasked with forming a new government. Her appointment became possible after the centrist party "Authenticity and Modernity" (PAM) won the parliamentary elections held on September 23. This is not only the first such appointment in Morocco's history but also the second instance in the Arab world where a woman holds the position of head of government. Previously, Najla Bouden became Prime Minister in Tunisia. In the coming days, Mansouri will need to negotiate the formation of a ruling coalition. Although PAM has expressed its readiness to cooperate with other political forces, some parties have already announced their intention to remain in opposition. The new government will face several important tasks. Among them are the implementation of large-scale investments in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, combating inflation, increasing wages, and creating new jobs. In fact, the cabinet will begin its work at a time when the country is facing major infrastructure projects and fulfilling social promises made during the election campaign. According to the Moroccan Constitution, the king appoints the Prime Minister; however, since 2011, he is required to choose a candidate from the party that has won the most seats in parliament. These changes were adopted after the events of the "Arab Spring" and limited the monarch's previous powers in forming the government. Fatima Zahra Mansouri has been a member of PAM since its founding in 2008. She graduated from the University of Montpellier in France, has been elected Mayor of Marrakech twice, served as a member of parliament, and in 2024 joined the party leadership. Mansouri's name has previously been associated with allegations of a potential conflict of interest in land deals in Marrakech. The politician herself has denied these allegations and has taken the matter to court. The recent elections marked PAM's first victorious parliamentary elections since the party's creation. Out of 15.8 million registered voters, about one million cast their votes for her party. Mansouri's appointment opens a new chapter in Morocco's political history. Attention will now be focused on how quickly she can form a coalition and begin implementing her electoral program.
