International media have widely praised the appointment of Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first woman head of government, describing the decision as a historic milestone for the kingdom and the Arab world.
King Mohammed VI named the lawyer and politician to the post on September 29, 2026, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, tasking her with forming a new government under Article 47 of the Constitution.
The move followed the September 23 legislative elections, in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the leading force with 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives.
Reuters headlined the news as “Morocco’s king appoints first woman prime minister following election,” highlighting El Mansouri’s background as a lawyer, former housing minister, and two-time mayor of Marrakech.
The agency noted her immediate priority: negotiating a coalition government, while also flagging major challenges such as investments linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Associated Press similarly framed the appointment as historic, emphasizing that El Mansouri becomes only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world after Tunisia’s Najla Bouden.
With the PAM short of an absolute majority, AP stressed the difficult coalition talks ahead.
The BBC focused on the groundbreaking nature of the nomination and traced El Mansouri’s political rise, including her first election as Marrakech mayor in 2009, her return to the post in 2021, and her subsequent government role.
Al Jazeera called the development “truly historic,” while France 24 spotlighted the former Marrakech mayor’s path to the top of the executive.
Bloomberg placed greater emphasis on the economic stakes, pointing to World Cup preparations and pressing issues of employment, purchasing power, and youth expectations.
El Mansouri, who has coordinated the PAM’s collective leadership since 2024, previously served as Minister of National Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy.
In a statement after the royal audience, she described the moment as historic for Morocco and for women, pledging to form a government that meets the expectations of the King and citizens, particularly young people, with realistic and concrete solutions.
Consultations with other parties, including the National Rally of Independents and Istiqlal, are set to begin as she works to assemble a governing majority.
