Moroccan King Mohammed VI has appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as prime minister, making her the first woman to hold the post in the nation's history.
The appointment follows the September 23 parliamentary elections, in which Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured first place with 97 seats, the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced in an official statement.
Under Morocco's constitution, the monarch appoints the prime minister from the political party that secures the most seats in the 395-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with cabinet ministers subsequently appointed on the prime minister's proposal.
The palace statement confirmed that King Mohammed received Mansouri, the coordinator of the PAM's collective leadership, at the Royal Palace in Rabat, formally tasking her with forming the new government.
Coalition consultations
Speaking after the audience, Mansouri described the monarch's decision as a "historic moment" for the nation.
"This is the first time that a woman has been appointed to head a government, which is a source of pride for me and for all the women of the country," she said.
Mansouri confirmed she will immediately commence consultations within her party and across other political factions to assemble a governing coalition.
"We are fully aware of the importance of this stage and of the high expectations of citizens, particularly young people," she stated, adding that "we will draw up a programme offering realistic and concrete solutions."
In the legislative elections, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) finished second with 66 seats, followed closely by the Istiqlal Party with 65 seats and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) with 54 seats.
Mansouri rose to political prominence after the party's founding in 2008 and made history in 2009 when she became Marrakech's first female mayor.
