Fatima El Mansouri has been named Morocco's first woman prime minister after King Mohammed VI formally appointed the members of a new government in Rabat on Friday. The centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which she leads into office, finished first in September's parliamentary elections and has formed a governing alliance.
How the new coalition is built
PAM has entered a coalition with the right-wing Istiqlal party and two smaller left-wing parties. Together they control 210 of the parliament's 395 seats, giving the incoming team a working majority. Fatima El Mansouri's elevation marks the first time a woman has held the Morocco prime minister post.
Thirteen of the 31 ministers from the previous government keep their places. Among them are Nasser Bourita as minister of foreign affairs and Abdelouafi Laftit as minister of the interior. Fouzi Lekjaa, a PAM figure who served as budget minister and is also known as head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, has been promoted to economy minister.
The new cabinet includes seven women, counting the prime minister — the same number as in the outgoing team.
What Mansouri and voters are focusing on
After her royal audience on Friday, Fatima El Mansouri pointed to an "ambitious government programme that can meet citizens' expectations." September's vote recorded the lowest turnout in nearly 20 years and was shaped by public worry over the cost of living, employment and inequality.
Those issues now sit at the top of the incoming government's in-tray. Ministers will also have to prepare for the 2030 football World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal — a long planning horizon that will test coordination on infrastructure, security and public services.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- September: Parliamentary elections produce the lowest turnout in nearly 20 years, with voters focused on living costs, jobs and inequality.
- September: PAM finishes first and begins building a coalition with Istiqlal and two smaller left-wing parties (210 of 395 seats).
- Friday: King Mohammed VI formally appoints the new government, with Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as prime minister.
- Friday: After the royal audience, Mansouri describes an ambitious programme aimed at meeting citizens' expectations.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Morocco mein pehli dafa ek khatoon wazir-e-azam bani hain, Fatima El Mansouri. King Mohammed VI ne Rabat mein nayee hukumat ka elaan kiya. Unki party September ke elections mein aage thi aur ab coalition ke saath chalegi. Awam ke liye asl sawal mehengai, rozgar aur barabri ke masail hain — yehi unke programme ka imtehan hoga.
