Casablanca – Youssef El Amrani, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, described Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri’s appointment as the country’s first woman Head of Government as a “historical milestone,” linking it to more than two decades of political and legal reforms.
King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri on Tuesday, tasking her with forming the new government. The appointment came six days after the September 23 legislative elections, in which her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. Under Article 47 of the Constitution, the King appoints the Head of Government from the party that wins the most seats.
The King has upheld “the letter and the spirit” of the Constitution with this appointment, El Amrani said. He described the moment as the result of more than 20 years of reforms, pointing to the 2004 Family Code and equality provisions included in the 2011 Constitution.
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El Amrani also referred to the changing representation of women in Parliament. He noted that the number of women lawmakers rose from two in 1993 to 96 in 2021.
“This is Morocco’s path, stability, enabling progress through the normal functioning of our strong institutions,” he said. He added that the responsibility now was to turn the historic appointment into daily progress for Moroccans, so that what is historic today becomes natural tomorrow.
El Mansouri herself also addressed the significance of her appointment after meeting with the King at the Royal Palace in Rabat. She called it a “historic” moment, noting that it was the first time a woman had been appointed to lead the Moroccan government. She said the appointment was a source of pride for her and for Moroccan women.
The new head of government also said she would begin consultations within PAM before meeting with other political parties to form the new government. El Mansouri said the incoming government would face major expectations from citizens, particularly young people, and pledged to develop a program offering “real and practical solutions.”
Her appointment marks a first in Morocco’s political history as she prepares to assemble the country’s next government.
