Morocco’s King Appoints New Government

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has formally appointed a new government led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the country’s first woman prime minister.

El Mansouri’s centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the leading party in September’s parliamentary elections and formed a coalition with the right-wing Istiqlal Party and two smaller left-wing parties.

The coalition controls 210 of the 395 seats in parliament.

The new cabinet retains 13 of the 31 ministers who served in the previous government, including Nasser Bourita as foreign minister and Abdelouafi Laftit as interior minister.

Fouzi Lekjaa, a PAM newcomer who previously served as budget minister and is also president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, has been appointed economy minister.

The new government includes seven women, including El Mansouri, matching the number in the previous cabinet.

Speaking after her appointment by the king, El Mansouri said her administration would pursue an ambitious programme focused on meeting citizens’ expectations.

The September election recorded Morocco’s lowest voter turnout in nearly two decades, with the campaign dominated by concerns over the cost of living, unemployment and inequality.

The new administration is expected to address those challenges while also overseeing preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.