MOROCCO APPOINTS FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AFTER PAM ELECTION VICTORY

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Marrakesh Mayor Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first woman prime minister following her party’s victory in last week’s parliamentary elections.

The royal cabinet announced the appointment on Tuesday, saying the 50-year-old politician had been tasked with forming a new government.

El Mansouri’s centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in the 395-member House of Representatives, winning 97 seats — 31 more than its closest rival.

However, the PAM fell short of the 198 seats required for an outright majority and will therefore need to negotiate a coalition with other political parties.

Speaking after her appointment, El Mansouri described the development as historic, saying it represented a significant moment for Moroccan women.

“For the first time in our country’s history, a woman is taking on the responsibility of leading the government,” she said in a televised address.

She added that her immediate priority would be consultations within the PAM before engaging other political groups on the formation of the government.

“The work starts today,” El Mansouri said.

El Mansouri joined the PAM in 2008, the year the party was founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close adviser to King Mohammed VI.

She became the first woman to serve as mayor of Marrakesh in 2009. Although she lost the position six years later, she returned to the mayoralty in 2021. She also previously served as housing minister.

Her appointment comes as Morocco faces economic and social challenges, including unemployment, rising living costs and persistent disparities affecting young people.

The parliamentary election was held against the backdrop of growing socioeconomic concerns among Moroccan youths, following recent protests over the state of healthcare and education.

El Mansouri acknowledged the expectations facing her incoming administration, particularly among young Moroccans.

“We are fully aware that this period will be significant and marked by high expectations from Moroccans, particularly young people,” she said, promising a programme focused on “concrete and realistic solutions” to citizens’ concerns.

The PAM campaigned on a target of average annual economic growth of five per cent, inflation of two per cent and the creation of at least one million jobs during its five-year term.

The National Rally of Independents (RNI), which leads the outgoing governing coalition, finished second with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party won 65 seats.

The Islamist opposition Justice and Development Party (PJD) secured 54 seats, a significant improvement from the 13 seats it won in 2021.

PJD leader and former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane described the result as a victory but ruled out joining a coalition led by the PAM. He alleged that the election was “tainted by fraud” but did not provide details to substantiate the claim.

Although the prime minister is responsible for forming the government, King Mohammed VI retains broad constitutional powers over major policy areas.