Morocco’s first female prime minister caught between the king, clerics, and feminists

Fatima Zahra El Mansouri has become Morocco’s first female prime minister, after her party won the most seats in September’s parliamentary election and formed a coalition. Her appointment is a historic step for women, but has revived debate about whether women should hold senior political office in a country where the king retains executive power and conservative religious views remain influential.

A former justice minister cited an Islamic saying to question her suitability, while some men interviewed on television said they accepted the appointment because it was the king’s choice; many younger Moroccans, particularly women, welcomed it. Wider equality debates include inheritance, polygamy and reforms to the family code, announced in 2024 but not yet law. In rural areas, only 55% of girls aged 15 to 17 attended school in 2025, according to the national statistics agency.