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Fatima Zahra Mansouri: Morocco’s First Woman Prime Minister
From the city of Marrakesh, which served as the most significant starting point in her political career, Fatima Zahra Mansouri rose to the forefront of Morocco’s political scene after King Mohammed VI tasked her with forming the government, making her the first woman to hold the position of prime minister in the Kingdom’s history.
Her appointment came after the Authenticity and Modernity Party topped the results of the legislative elections held on September 23, winning 97 seats in the House of Representatives and finishing ahead of the National Rally of Independents and the Istiqlal Party.
Mansouri was born in Marrakesh in 1976. She pursued her academic studies in law, earning a degree in Anglo-Saxon law from Pace University in the United States. She also obtained a postgraduate diploma in business contract law from the University of Montpellier in France, as well as a degree in private law from Mohammed V University in Rabat.
Since March 22, 2005, Mansouri has practiced law at the Marrakesh Bar Association, specializing in real estate law. However, her professional legal career did not prevent her from entering politics. In 2007, she joined the Movement for All Democrats and later became one of the founding members of the Authenticity and Modernity Party in 2008.
Just one year later, she achieved her first major political breakthrough when she was elected mayor of Marrakesh in 2009, becoming the first woman to head the city council. She remained in the position until 2015, before returning to lead the Marrakesh Council following the 2021 local elections.
At the parliamentary level, Mansouri served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2011 to 2016 and later renewed her parliamentary mandate for the period from 2016 to 2021. She also chaired the National Council of the Authenticity and Modernity Party from 2015 to 2024, before taking on a leading role within the party by coordinating its collective leadership.
In October 2021, Mansouri joined the government after being appointed Minister of National Land Management, Urban Planning, Housing and City Policy. The position allowed her to oversee issues related to urban expansion, housing and urban planning, while continuing to fulfill her local responsibilities in managing the affairs of Marrakesh.
Following her reception at the Royal Palace, Mansouri is expected to begin consultations on forming the new government from her party’s central headquarters in Rabat, marking a political phase likely to be filled with challenges.
The anticipated government’s priorities will include major economic and social issues, particularly creating job opportunities, improving purchasing power and enhancing healthcare and education services, in addition to continuing investment projects. The government will also have to prepare for the commitments associated with Morocco’s hosting, alongside Spain and Portugal, of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
