Fatima Zahra Mansouri has been appointed as the first woman in the history of Morocco to the position of Prime Minister of the country. This appointment was made by King Mohammed VI on Tuesday, making Mansouri the second female Prime Minister in the Arab world after Najla Bouden in Tunisia.
Victory of the Authenticity and Modernity Party
This appointment comes less than a week after the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) was recognized as the largest party in the parliamentary elections held on September 23 in Morocco. PAM secured 97 seats out of 395 in the House of Representatives during these elections. Additionally, the voter turnout was approximately 38 percent, down from 50 percent in 2021, marking the lowest level since 2007.
Economic and Social Challenges
Mansouri will now be responsible for negotiating the formation of a coalition and a new government. In a statement to reporters, she declared that this appointment is a "historic moment for the country." She emphasized, "We are fully aware of the significance of this stage and the high expectations from citizens, especially the youth," adding, "We will design a program that provides real and tangible solutions."
The PAM party promised to create at least one million jobs by 2031 and to develop investment in social programs during its election campaign. In this context, economic challenges, particularly among the youth, including rising unemployment rates and social discontent, are among Mansouri's internal priorities.
Mansouri, 50, was born on January 3, 1976, in Morocco. She completed her education in French schools in Morocco and then studied law and business at the University of Montpellier in France and Pace University in New York. After returning to Morocco, she worked as a lawyer before entering the political arena.
She was elected as the first female mayor of Morocco in 2009 and was also elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and 2016. In 2024, she was appointed as the coordinator of the leadership of the PAM party and took on the leadership of the party in the elections in 2026.
During her tenure, Mansouri will face economic challenges and high expectations from society, particularly in the areas of employment and household purchasing power. Additionally, Morocco's foreign policy, which is dominated by the monarchy, will influence her domestic agenda.
