Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri raises her hand alongside a fellow party member during a political event in Morocco. El Mansouri was appointed the country’s first woman head of government on Tuesday. Photo: Sharjah24

NNA News - Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister, tasking her with forming a new government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the largest number of seats in last week’s parliamentary elections.

The appointment was announced by the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery after the King received El Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Tuesday. The royal statement said she had been appointed under Article 47 of the Constitution and instructed to form the new government.

PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives in the Sept. 23 election, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry. The National Rally of Independents won 66 seats, followed by Istiqlal with 65 and the Justice and Development Party with 54.

El Mansouri, who is also the coordinator of PAM’s collective leadership, said her appointment marked a significant moment for the country.

“This is a historic moment for our country,” she said after meeting the King, according to Moroccan media reports.

“For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking responsibility for heading the government,” she said, describing the appointment as a source of pride for Moroccan women.

El Mansouri said she would begin consultations with her party and other political groups as she works to form the new administration.

“We are fully aware of the importance of this stage and of the high expectations of citizens, particularly young people,” she said.

She added that the government would seek to present “a program offering realistic and concrete solutions.”

PAM does not hold the 198 seats required for a parliamentary majority, meaning El Mansouri will have to negotiate with other parties to establish a governing coalition. The election results were formally confirmed by Morocco’s Interior Ministry, which said PAM remained the largest party with 97 seats.

El Mansouri, a lawyer, previously served as Morocco’s minister responsible for national spatial planning, urban development, housing and urban policy. She also served as mayor of Marrakech and was the first woman to hold that position.

Her government will also oversee preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal, while facing domestic expectations over employment, public services and economic conditions.