Morocco swears in Fatima El Mansouri cabinet as nation gets first female premier

Morocco has officially sworn in a new administration led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, marking the first time a woman has taken the office of prime minister in the country's history. The swearing-in ceremony took place before King Mohammed VI following weeks of negotiations to assemble a governing coalition.

El Mansouri's centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party, known as PAM, emerged victorious from legislative elections held on September 23. To establish a functional government, PAM finalized an alliance this week with three other political groups, including the nationalist Istiqlal party and moderate socialist organizations. The resulting coalition commands 207 seats in the Moroccan parliament, comfortably clearing the 198-seat threshold required to secure a working majority.

The incoming cabinet consists of 20 full ministers alongside 11 ministers delegate. The lineup maintains significant continuity across key portfolios, with several high-ranking figures from the previous administration retaining their positions. Nasser Bourita remains at the helm of foreign affairs, while Abdelouafi Laftit continues to direct the interior ministry. Abdellatif Loudiyi also stays on as minister delegate overseeing national defense.

Other senior officials holding onto their responsibilities include Justice Minister Abdel Latif Wahbi, Minister of Equipment, Water and Forests Nizar Baraka, and Riadh Mezzour, who oversees industry, commerce, investment, and economic integration. Meanwhile, the leadership of economic policy saw changes, with former budget minister and national football federation head Fouzi Lekjaa appointed as the minister of economy and finance, according to state news agency MAP.

Fresh appointments within the cabinet include Khalid Hatimi of PAM, who will lead agriculture, maritime fisheries, and food sovereignty. Nabil Benabdallah, who leads the Party of Progress and Socialism and previously served in the housing ministry, returns to the executive branch as education minister. Another member of the same party, Charafat Afailal, was appointed energy minister.

Afailal is one of two women selected for ministerial-level portfolios, joined by Najwa Kokos, who has been tasked with leading family, social development, and equality. In addition to these roles, four women were selected among the 11 ministers delegate in the broader executive lineup.

The newly installed leadership assumes office amid domestic calls to tackle joblessness and elevate standards across national healthcare and educational systems. Alongside public service priorities, El Mansouri's government is set to direct the concluding phase of a $20 billion infrastructure and modernization campaign ahead of the 2030 World Cup, a tournament Morocco is scheduled to stage jointly with Spain and Portugal.