Morocco has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister, marking a historic change in the country’s political leadership.
King Mohammed VI appointed the 50-year-old lawyer on Tuesday, 29 September, after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the most seats in the 23 September parliamentary election. PAM secured 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, meaning El Mansouri will need to negotiate with other parties to form a coalition government.
El Mansouri is a former mayor of Marrakesh and has previously served as a minister. During her election campaign, she placed young Moroccans at the centre of her platform, highlighting unemployment, the cost of living and social inequality as key challenges.
“Young people are going through a crisis and we must provide them with answers,” she said during the campaign, according to Africanews.
Her appointment comes amid growing youth dissatisfaction in Morocco, including protests over economic and social conditions.
As head of government, El Mansouri will also oversee Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Her government will also continue dealing with the disputed Western Sahara issue.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with King Mohammed VI retaining significant powers over areas including foreign policy and defence. Under the constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections.
Main Image: CNN
