Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Makes History as Prime Minister of Morocco
In a groundbreaking move for gender representation in the Arab world, Moroccan King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first female Prime Minister on Tuesday. At 50 years old, El Mansouri, who previously served as the mayor of Marrakech, has now been tasked with forming a new government following the recent parliamentary elections where her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), emerged victorious.
The royal announcement came just four days after the election results were revealed, highlighting the increasing influence of female leaders in the region. El Mansouri's appointment is particularly significant as she becomes only the second woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in the Arab world, following Najla Bouden in Tunisia. In the coming days, she is expected to build a coalition government, a challenging endeavor given Morocco's electoral system, which often prevents any one party from achieving an absolute majority.
El Mansouri's tenure is anticipated to focus on substantial investments tied to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, along with addressing pressing national issues such as inflation, wage increases, and job creation. The Moroccan Constitution grants the king the authority to appoint the Prime Minister from the party that secures the most parliamentary seats, a significant change enacted following the Arab Spring protests in 2011 that aimed to enhance democratic governance in the country.
Since joining PAM in 2008, a party founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close friend of the king, El Mansouri has risen to become one of its prominent leaders. A law graduate from the University of Montpellier in France, she has served as mayor of Marrakech twice and has been active in politics as a member of the parliament. El Mansouri is also the daughter of Abderrahmane El Mansouri, a former high-ranking official and ambassador to the UAE, who led the Marrakech Bar Association and owned significant land holdings.
Despite her achievements, El Mansouri has faced allegations of conflicts of interest related to land transactions in Marrakech, claims she has publicly denied, labeling them as defamatory while pursuing legal action against the accusers. In the recent election, approximately one million of the 15.8 million registered voters supported PAM, marking its first victory since its establishment, and reflecting the political shifts following the migrant crisis in Ceuta and recent youth-led protests.
As El Mansouri prepares to form her coalition, the political landscape remains dynamic. Although PAM has expressed willingness to collaborate with all parties, some groups, including the moderate Justice and Development Party and the leftist Democratic Left Federation, have announced their intention to remain in opposition. The coming weeks will be pivotal in shaping the future of Morocco under its first female Prime Minister.
As reported by apnews.com.
