Rabat, 30 September, 2026 (Nosheen): King Mohammed VI on Tuesday appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first woman prime minister after her liberal-centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in the September 23 parliamentary election, the royal palace said. The king asked El Mansouri to form a new government and submit a list of cabinet members for approval. El Mansouri, a lawyer who previously served as housing minister and mayor of Marrakech, will lead coalition negotiations. PAM won 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats and Istiqlal with 65 seats. El Mansouri said there would be no “red lines” in coalition talks, despite earlier disagreements between PAM and the RNI over issues including rising food prices. Morocco’s constitution requires the king to appoint the head of government from the party winning the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives, while the monarch retains significant powers over foreign policy, defence and other key areas. The incoming government will oversee preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain, as well as economic measures aimed at addressing concerns among the country’s youth. Former prime minister and Justice and Development Party (PJD) leader Abdelilah Benkirane said his party, which won 54 seats, would remain in opposition. Voter turnout was around 38%, down from about 50% in the previous election five years earlier.