Historic Appointment Marks a New Era for Women in Moroccan Politics
In a groundbreaking development for Morocco, Fatima Ezzahra El-Mansouri has made history by becoming the first woman to lead the Moroccan government. This landmark appointment was made by King Mohammed VI on September 29, 2026, following the parliamentary elections held on September 23, where her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), emerged as the strongest political force. According to the 2011 constitution, the King is required to appoint the prime minister from the party that holds the majority of seats in parliament, thus cementing El-Mansouri's position through both popular mandate and royal decree.
Born in Marrakech in 1976, El-Mansouri is a trained jurist with academic credentials from both France and the United States. She has previously made her mark in local governance, becoming the first female mayor of Marrakech in 2009, a position she held until 2015 and later resumed in 2021. Her political career further expanded when she became the Minister of Urban Planning, City Development, and Housing in the same year, overseeing the reconstruction efforts following the devastating earthquake that struck the Al-Haouz region in 2023.
Empowerment of Women Through Generations of Leadership
Women have played pivotal roles in Moroccan society for centuries, as exemplified by figures such as Fatima al-Fihri, who founded the Al-Qarawiyyin University in Fez in the 9th century, recognized as one of the oldest existing universities worldwide, and Sayyida al-Hurra, who ruled Tetouan for nearly three decades in the 16th century. Reforms over the past two decades have facilitated women's increasing involvement in governance, including a parliamentary gender quota introduced in 2002, the reform of family law (Mudawwana) in 2004, and the constitutional guarantee of gender equality established in 2011. Currently, women occupy 27 percent of the seats in the lower house of parliament, reflecting significant progress in gender representation.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain formidable. Youth unemployment in Morocco exceeds 33 percent, and only about one in five women is currently employed. In addition, Morocco is gearing up for substantial investments in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal, alongside completing reconstruction efforts in Al-Haouz. With her background as the daughter of a former pasha of Marrakech, El-Mansouri represents the establishment; however, she must work diligently to earn the trust of a politically disenchanted, particularly younger, populace. Ultimately, her success will be measured by her effectiveness in addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.
As reported by islam.de.
