Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri: from Marrakech mayor to Morocco’s first woman Head of Government

Saturday 03 - 09:00

Morocco has entered a new political chapter with the appointment of Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Head of Government, making her the first woman to occupy the position in the country’s history. King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on 29 September 2026 at the Royal Palace in Rabat and tasked her with forming the new government.

The appointment followed the 23 September legislative elections, in which the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest parliamentary force, winning 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The result leaves El Mansouri with the task of negotiating the alliances required to form a governing majority.

The significance of the appointment extends beyond its gender dimension. It places at the center of national executive power a politician whose career has combined legal practice, local government, ministerial responsibilities and senior party leadership.

From the Marrakech Bar to national leadership

Born in Marrakech in 1976, El Mansouri trained as a lawyer and built her professional background around private law and business contracts. Her academic path included studies at Mohammed V University in Rabat, the University of Montpellier in France and training in Anglo-Saxon business law in New York. She joined the Marrakech Bar in 2005, specializing in land and real-estate law.

Her transition into politics began in the late 2000s. In 2009, she became the first woman to preside over the municipal council of Marrakech, a position she held until 2015 before returning to the city's leadership in 2021. She also served as a member of Parliament and later held senior responsibilities within the PAM.

Her political trajectory subsequently moved to the national level. From 2021 to 2026, El Mansouri served as Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy, giving her responsibility for areas closely linked to urban development and public policy. Since 2024, she has coordinated the PAM's collegial leadership.

A new phase after the 2026 elections

Her arrival at the head of government also comes with an immediate institutional challenge. The PAM did not obtain the 198 seats required for an outright majority in the 395-member House of Representatives, meaning that coalition-building will be central to the formation of the next cabinet.

Before the election results were finalized, El Mansouri had indicated that the PAM remained open to discussions with other political parties regarding possible alliances. She said there were no predetermined “red lines” concerning coalition partners, while stressing that any future arrangement would be discussed through the party's institutional bodies.

Her first political test, therefore, will not simply be the symbolism of becoming Morocco's first woman Head of Government. It will be the formation of a workable governing majority and the translation of the electoral programme into concrete public policies.

A milestone for women's representation

The appointment nevertheless carries considerable significance for women's representation in Moroccan political institutions. El Mansouri herself described the moment as historic, linking it to the broader presence of Moroccan women in positions of political decision-making.

Her career provides a trajectory spanning municipal leadership in Marrakech, parliamentary politics, ministerial office and party leadership. That progression places the appointment within a longer professional and political path rather than presenting it solely as a symbolic breakthrough.

For younger Moroccan women entering public life, the new government leadership creates a highly visible example of female representation at the highest executive level. Whether that milestone translates into broader institutional change will depend on future appointments, policies and measurable outcomes.

An executive agenda shaped by immediate challenges

El Mansouri takes office at a moment when the next government will face a broad range of economic and social priorities. International reporting has highlighted employment, purchasing power, economic growth and preparations linked to Morocco's role in the 2030 FIFA World Cup among the issues facing the new administration.

Her party's 2027–2031 programme also sets out priorities covering purchasing power, citizenship, youth integration, security, growth and sustainability, with 20 measurable commitments and an estimated additional cost of MAD 350 billion over five years.

The historic character of her appointment will therefore soon be measured against the practical demands of governing. After the symbolism of Morocco's first woman at the head of government comes the more complex phase: building a coalition, defining priorities and delivering results.