Potential for a Female Prime Minister in Morocco
The recent Moroccan legislative elections have seen the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerge as a prominent force, securing 97 seats and surpassing both the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Istiqlal Party. This outcome has sparked discussions regarding the possibility of King Mohammed VI appointing a woman as the head of the next government, a groundbreaking development in the kingdom's history.
According to preliminary official results, the PAM has claimed the largest number of seats in the parliamentary elections held on Wednesday, followed closely by its coalition partners, the RNI and Istiqlal. In the wake of these results, the name of Fatima Zahra Mansouri, a key figure within the PAM, has gained prominence as a strong candidate for leading the future government.
Under the Moroccan constitution, the king appoints the prime minister from the party that secures the most seats in the House of Representatives. This constitutional provision places Fatima Zahra Mansouri in a favorable position as a potential candidate for the prime ministerial role. If this scenario unfolds, she would not only become the first woman to hold this position in Morocco but also the second woman to lead a government in the Arab region, following Najla Bouden in Tunisia.
Fatima Zahra Mansouri has openly expressed her ambition to assume the leadership of the executive branch. She has affirmed that her party will not settle for a secondary role in the government and has made it clear that she will not participate in a government led by the RNI.
Born in Marrakech in 1976, Mansouri is a lawyer specializing in law, having started her academic journey at Mohammed V University and continuing her studies in France and the United States, focusing on business and corporate law. She practiced law in Marrakech, particularly in civil and commercial matters, and has been active in social work, including leading the French Law Students Association and heading the Mounia Association, dedicated to heritage preservation.
Entering the political arena with the establishment of the PAM in 2008, she was elected as the mayor of Marrakech in 2009, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the city. She was re-elected to this role following the 2021 elections.
Mansouri has served as a member of the Moroccan House of Representatives for several years before being appointed by King Mohammed VI in October 2021 as the Minister of National Planning, Urbanism, Housing, and City Policy in Aziz Akhannouch's government. In 2024, she took the helm of the PAM.
The recent entry of Fawzi Lekjaa into the PAM's political bureau has fueled speculation about his potential candidacy for the prime ministership, considering his role as the Minister Delegate in charge of the budget and President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, along with his substantial popularity. However, Lekjaa has clarified that he has "never considered" taking on the role of prime minister.
As reported by albayan.ae.
