Morocco's King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as the country's first female prime minister. Her appointment follows the Authenticity and Modernity Party (Pam) winning the most seats in September's parliamentary election, subsequently forming a coalition with three other parties to secure 207 of the 395 parliamentary seats.
The historic appointment has brought to the fore existing reservations about women in positions of power. Mustafa Ramid, a former justice minister, cited an Islamic saying questioning a woman holding the country's highest political office. While some men expressed hesitation, many younger Moroccans, especially women, welcomed the decision.
El Mansouri has a political career spanning over two decades, including serving as mayor of Marrakech and holding government posts. She previously served as minister for national territory planning, urban planning, housing and city policy. Following her appointment, she stated it was a source of pride for her and all women in the kingdom.
However, El Mansouri has not indicated whether she intends to pursue reforms to Morocco's family code, known as the Moudawana. This code governs marriage, divorce, and child custody, and includes contentious issues such as unequal inheritance rules and polygamy. Proposals for changes to the family code were announced in 2024 but have not yet become law.