In brief
In a historic move, Morocco has named Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as its first female prime minister after her centrist party won the most seats in the 2026 elections. The decision came from King Mohammed VI, who chose El Mansouri over football chief Fouzi Lekjaa. Though Morocco remains a constitutional monarchy with most power in the king’s hands, El Mansouri’s appointment signals a significant shift for women’s representation in the Arab world. She will now need to negotiate a coalition to secure a parliamentary majority. The event reflects broader debates on gender equality and political reform across the region.
Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has become Morocco’s first woman to head its government after her Authenticity and Modernity Party secured the largest share of seats in the 2026 parliamentary elections. The king, Mohammed VI, chose her over football chief Fouzi Lekjaa, a senior party colleague.
El Mansouri, 50, is a lawyer‑by‑trade who studied at Mohammed V University before furthering her education in France and the US. She served as mayor of Marrakesh since 2009 and was minister of national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy from 2021 to 2023.
Her appointment follows Tunisia’s 2019 historic result, where Najla Bouden became the Arab world’s first female government head.
While Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, the head of government is appointed by the king on the basis of election results. Elena Mansouri’s party, holding 97 of the 395 seats, will need to form a coalition for a majority, a process complicated by recent tensions with the National Rally of Independents and the surge of the Islamist Justice and Development Party.
In a press conference prior to her announcement, she praised the king as “the biggest advocate for women” and avoided speaking on how to adapt royal religious ceremonies to her new role, reflecting a focus on unity over gender issues.
