Morocco King appoints Fatima El Mansouri as first female prime minister

King Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female prime minister on Tuesday, following a victory for her party in the recent general election. The appointment follows the parliamentary vote held on 23 September 2026, where El Mansouri’s party secured the highest number of seats. El Mansouri leads the center-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which won 97 out of 395 seats in the legislative house. The royal palace confirmed the appointment in a formal statement, noting that the King has officially tasked El Mansouri with forming a new coalition government to lead the North African nation. Constitutional Mandate and Election Results The appointment was executed under Article 47 of the Moroccan Constitution. This legal provision mandates that the King must select the head of government from the political party that wins the most seats in the parliamentary elections. The PAM’s performance on 23 September placed it ahead of all rival political factions, necessitating El Mansouri's elevation to the premiership. El Mansouri, a former mayor of Marrakech and a prominent lawyer, has long been a key figure in Moroccan politics. Her party’s victory shifts the political balance in Rabat as it prepares to negotiate with other parliamentary blocs to secure a working majority. Government Formation and Economic Priorities The new prime minister must now enter negotiations with other political parties to build a stable coalition. While…