Rabat – King Mohammed VI received Fatima Zahra El Mansouri and appointed her as Morocco’s new Head of Government on Tuesday.
A statement from the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced that King Mohammed VI received El Mansouri, coordinator of the collective leadership of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), on Tuesday at the royal palace in Rabat and appointed her Head of Government.
El Mansouri would be the first-ever Moroccan woman to take the helm as head of government. Many had predicted El Mansouri to take the lead in the PAM-led government, especially following her activism during the 2026 legislative elections.
The royal audience came a few days after the legislative elections, which saw the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) securing 97 seats in the House of Representatives.
The King tasked El Mansouri with forming the new government, within the provisions of article 47 of the Constitution.
Under these provisions, King Mohammed VI appoints the head of government from within the political party which has won the elections for members of the House of Representatives.
Morocco’s legislative elections took place on Wednesday, September 23. PAM came first, and was followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats, and Istiqlal with 65 seats.
The three parties formed the government in 2021, with Akhannouch leading the cabinet.
Now, PAM and other potential parties forming the new government will have to convene for consultations to recommend profiles for high level officials.
In the 2026 elections, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) secured 54 seats, ahead of the Popular Movement (MP) with 29 and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) with 26. PJD announced its commitment to the opposition, celebrating the increase in the number of seats they won in this election compared to the 13 seats they secured in the 2021 elections.
The Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) won 19 seats and the Constitutional Union (UC) 17. The Democratic and Social Movement (MDS) and the Left Alliance each took 8. The Front of Democratic Forces (FFD) and the Equity Party (PE) each secured 2, while the Neo-Democrats Party (PND) and the Party of Unity and Democracy (PUD) each took 1.
