King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first female prime minister following her liberal-centrist party's victory in the recent parliamentary elections. The royal palace announced that El Mansouri has been tasked with forming a new government.
El Mansouri's party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which was established in 2008 and advocates for social modernization, secured the top position in the September 23 election. PAM's success was significantly bolstered by the addition of Fouzi Lekjaa, the president of Morocco's football federation and a former government budget manager, who joined the party shortly before the vote. PAM won 97 seats, followed by its partners in the outgoing coalition, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats, and the conservative Istiqlal party with 65 seats.
As prime minister, El Mansouri, a lawyer who previously served as the housing minister and the mayor of Marrakech, will lead coalition negotiations and present a proposed cabinet for the King's approval. This new government will be responsible for overseeing the final preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain, and implementing economic policies designed to address youth discontent, a pressing issue highlighted by recent events.
Despite past tensions and disagreements during the campaign, El Mansouri has indicated an open approach to coalition talks, stating that she has "no red lines" in negotiations. Meanwhile, the former prime minister and leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, announced that his party, which secured 54 seats, would remain in opposition. Voter turnout for the election reportedly fell to approximately 38%, a decrease from the previous election's turnout of around 50%.
