Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri Takes the Helm of the Moroccan Government
In a groundbreaking development for Morocco, King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the national coordinator of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), to lead the new government, as confirmed by a royal cabinet statement. This marks a significant milestone in the nation's history as El Mansouri becomes the first woman to assume the role of Prime Minister. Expressing her pride in this momentous occasion, she stated, "This is not only a source of pride for me but for all Moroccan women," highlighting the importance of this achievement for gender representation in leadership positions.
The PAM, which is a center-right political party and a member of the outgoing ruling coalition, secured 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives during an election that saw a participation rate of only 38%, the lowest in nearly two decades. Without an absolute majority, Prime Minister El Mansouri will need to collaborate with other parties to form a governmental coalition that will serve for the next five years, although the overarching direction of key strategic sectors remains under royal authority.
Challenges Ahead and the Path to Restoring Trust
El Mansouri acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, "The work begins today. We will first engage in internal consultations within our party, followed by discussions with all political formations." A lawyer by profession, she has been a part of PAM since its inception in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close advisor to King Mohammed VI. She made history in 2009 by becoming Marrakech's first female mayor at just 33 years old and is currently serving her second term in that role since 2021. Additionally, she held the position of Minister of Housing in the previous government led by Aziz Akhannouch and was elected to parliament in the recent elections.
As she steps into her new role, El Mansouri will be replacing herself in parliament with her second-in-command from her election list while retaining her position as mayor until the next municipal elections scheduled for 2027. The recent elections were conducted amid a backdrop of skepticism towards the political class and rising concerns regarding unemployment and inequalities, particularly affecting the youth. The lack of opportunities for Moroccan youth became increasingly evident following a massive influx of migrants to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in late July.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, El Mansouri stated, "We are fully aware that this period will be significant and marked by high expectations from Moroccans, especially the youth. Therefore, we will have a program that offers concrete and realistic solutions to the citizens' concerns." Her party has promised an average annual growth of 5%, maintaining inflation at 2% to protect purchasing power, and creating at least one million jobs during her term.
The National Rally of Independents (RNI), from which the outgoing Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch hails, came in second with 66 seats, losing around thirty seats compared to the last legislative elections in 2021. The Istiqlal Party, also part of the outgoing coalition, secured third place with 65 seats. In opposition, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, quadrupled its seats from 13 to 54. Following the elections, PJD Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane ruled out the possibility of joining the ruling majority.
As reported by france24.com.
