Morocco Names El Mansouri First Female PM After PAM Election Win

Key points

• King Mohammed VI issued a royal decree on September 29, 2026, tasking Fatima Zahra El Mansouri with forming the new government.
• The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 seats in the September 23 election, 31 more than the National Rally of Independents (RNI), but fell short of the 198-seat majority needed.
• El Mansouri, a lawyer and former housing minister, previously served as mayor of Marrakesh from 2009 to 2015 and again from 2021.
• The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won 54 seats, a significant increase from 13 in 2021, but its leader Abdelilah Benkirane refused to join a PAM-led coalition, citing alleged fraud.
• El Mansouri's government faces pressure to address youth unemployment, high living costs, and deliver on promises of 5% annual growth and one million new jobs.

Background

Morocco's political landscape has been shaped by recent social unrest, including a Gen-Z protest movement in 2025 demanding better health and education services, and a mass migrant crossing into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in September 2026, which highlighted socioeconomic frustrations among young Moroccans. The 2026 elections were marked by the lowest voter turnout in two decades, reflecting widespread disillusionment. El Mansouri's appointment follows a period where the PAM served as a junior partner in the outgoing coalition led by the RNI, a relationship that has now fractured, complicating coalition negotiations.

How outlets are covering it

France 24 emphasizes the economic challenges facing El Mansouri's government, particularly the need to manage billions of dollars in investments linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup and address youth unemployment. The BBC highlights the historical significance of her appointment as the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world and notes that King Mohammed VI chose her over fellow PAM politician Fouzi Lekjaa, a decision that was not a formality due to PAM's collective leadership structure. The Washington Post focuses on the immediate political reality, noting that El Mansouri must form a coalition despite the PAM's lack of a majority and the refusal of the PJD to join, with the RNI also being a likely partner but having fallen out with PAM. All sources agree on the core facts of the appointment and the election results, but differ in emphasis: France 24 on economic policy, BBC on gender and royal prerogative, and Washington Post on coalition dynamics.

Why it matters

El Mansouri's appointment signals a potential shift in Morocco's approach to youth unemployment and social disparities, as her party has pledged concrete solutions rather than just rhetoric. The need to form a coalition in a fragmented parliament, with the PJD in opposition and the RNI as a former partner, may lead to policy compromises that affect the pace of World Cup-related investments and social reforms. Her success or failure in addressing these issues could influence future political stability and the monarchy's relationship with its population.

What to watch

El Mansouri must negotiate coalition partners to reach the 198-seat majority required to govern. The PJD has ruled out joining, and the RNI is a potential partner but has a strained relationship with PAM. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the composition of the new cabinet and the feasibility of the PAM's economic promises, including 5% growth and one million new jobs. The government will also need to manage public expectations regarding the 2030 FIFA World Cup investments and address ongoing social tensions.