King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first female prime minister on Tuesday. The 50-year-old lawyer and mayor of Marrakesh will lead the formation of a new government following her Authenticity and Modernity Party's strong showing in the September 23 parliamentary elections.

El Mansouri's PAM secured 97 seats in the 395-seat House of Representatives, outpacing the National Rally of Independents with 66 seats and the Istiqlal Party with 65. The royal palace announced the appointment, tasking her with assembling a coalition cabinet for the king's approval.

A trained lawyer who studied at Mohammed V University and pursued further education in France and the United States, El Mansouri previously served as urban planning minister and became the first woman mayor of Marrakesh in 2009. She described the move as "truly historic" in a televised address, noting it marks the first time a woman leads the government in the kingdom's history.

The appointment positions El Mansouri as only the second woman to head a government in the Arab world, following Tunisia's Najla Bouden. Morocco's constitutional monarchy grants the king significant authority in selecting the prime minister from the leading party.

The incoming administration will manage preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, alongside efforts to address economic challenges and youth concerns. PAM's victory reflects voter preferences for its centrist, monarchy-aligned platform over other contenders.