First woman sworn in as Morocco's prime minister after historic election win

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, a lawyer‑turned‑politician, has become the first female prime minister of Morocco after her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, secured the most seats in last week’s parliamentary election.

Her appointment marks only the second time a woman has led a government in the Arab world, following Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.

King Mohammed VI chose El Mansouri over fellow party member Fouzi Lekjaa, a former football chief, after the vote. She has served as mayor of Marrakesh, a minister in a previous coalition and as a coordinator for her party’s leadership.

During the victory press conference she skipped a direct answer on how her role would fit into traditional Muslim worship before praising the king as 'the biggest advocate for women.'

With 97 seats PAM still needs to forge a coalition to reach the 198 seats required for an absolute majority in the 395‑member parliament. Whether it will ally with rival parties such as the National Rally of Independents or the Justice and Development Party remains an open question.

El Mansouri’s nomination is a historic milestone, signalling a new era for Moroccan politics and the broader region’s journey toward gender parity.