Morocco's king appoints Fatima Zahra Mansouri as country's first woman prime minister
King Mohammed VI named Mansouri, coordinator of the Authenticity and Modernity Party's (PAM) collective leadership, prime minister on 29 September 2026 and asked her to form a government after PAM won the most seats in the previous week's parliamentary elections.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Zahra Mansouri as prime minister on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. She is the first woman to hold the post in Morocco. The king tasked her with forming a new government.
The royal palace announced the appointment. DW calls the announcing body the royal cabinet. Daily Sabah calls it the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery. Daily Sabah cites the royal statement as saying the king received Mansouri at the Royal Palace in Rabat before appointing her. Outlets spell her name differently, including Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri. The reports do not give an official spelling.
The election result
Mansouri coordinates the collective leadership of the centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which she shares with two other senior party figures, Mehdi Bensaid and Fatima Saadi, according to Daily Sabah. PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, in elections held the previous week. That put it 31 seats ahead of the next party. Under Morocco's constitutional arrangements, the king appoints the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats.
According to Daily Sabah, the vote took place on 23 September. The outlet reports that the National Rally of Independents (RNI) came second with 66 seats, followed by the Istiqlal Party with 65 and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) with 54. It says a majority requires at least 198 seats, so consultations are needed. According to DW, turnout was the lowest in two decades. The reports do not give a turnout figure or official final results.
Background
Mansouri has been associated with PAM since it was founded in 2008. In 2009 she became the first woman elected mayor of Marrakesh. She held the post for six years and won it back in 2021. France 24 describes her as the city's current mayor. The reports do not say whether she will keep that role.
According to DW, she is 50 and has also served as a member of parliament. DW reports that PAM was founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, now a royal adviser, as a counterweight to the country's Islamist movement. DW also reports that she is the second woman in the Arab world to serve as prime minister, after Tunisia's Najla Bouden (2021 to 2023).
What each side says
DW quoted Mansouri as saying: "For the first time in our country's history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government." It also quoted her as saying: "This is a source of pride not only for me but for all Moroccan women." According to DW, she said her government will present a programme of concrete and realistic solutions to citizens' concerns. The reports do not describe where she made these remarks.
According to DW, PAM says it is willing to work with all parties to form a government. The PJD and the Federation of Democratic Left plan to remain in opposition, DW reports. The reports do not say which parties PAM is negotiating with.
Analysis
PAM holds fewer than half of the 198 seats that Daily Sabah says a majority requires. Mansouri's first task is therefore coalition building. The shape of that coalition is not yet known. It could include one or more of the larger parties, such as the RNI or Istiqlal, while the PJD and the Federation of Democratic Left say they will stay in opposition. The low turnout that DW reports may raise questions about public engagement. According to DW, the new government is also expected to oversee large investments linked to the 2030 World Cup. How it manages those investments could shape public views of its record.
Traceability
Sources (6): Deutsche Welle · France 24 · Anadolu Agency · Daily Sabah · RT · AllAfrica
Independent origins: 5 · Perspectives covered: africa, state-russia, state-turkey, turkey-progov, west-public
Confirmed: 12 · Reported: 13 · Disputed: 0 · Confidence: high
Review: 3 AI reviewers (Claude, GPT-5.6 Sol, Kimi) · 35/35 claims backed by 2+ reviewers with verified evidence · 0 errors · approved
Drafted: 2026-09-30 13:02 UTC
Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.
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