Morocco appoints its first female Head of Government following the 2026 legislative elections
In short: In a historic shift for Moroccan politics, the 2026 general election resulted in the appointment of Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first female Head of Government. The election, marked by significant electoral reforms and intense competition between coalition partners, saw the Authenticity and Modernity Party emerge as the leading political force.
The 2026 Moroccan general election, held on 23 September, was the 12th legislative contest since the nation's independence in 1956. Voters elected all 395 members of the House of Representatives using a party-list proportional representation system. A significant change in the electoral process occurred in July 2025, when King Mohammed VI instructed the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, to oversee preparations. This marked a departure from previous cycles where the sitting Head of Government chaired these meetings. The legal framework was further updated in January 2026 with the promulgation of Organic Law No. 53.25, which introduced measures to strengthen electoral integrity and reserved regional lists for women.
The campaign period, which ran from 10 September to 22 September, featured 28 political parties and two independent lists. Despite the high number of candidates, voter turnout was recorded at 38.02%, the second-lowest figure since the start of King Mohammed VI's reign. The political environment was influenced by youth-led protests from late 2025 regarding public services and corruption, alongside ongoing public distrust in political institutions. Controversies also emerged during the final weeks, including allegations of phone hacking and the circulation of leaked audio recordings, prompting investigations by the Public Prosecutor.
Following the vote, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents with 66 and the Istiqlal Party with 65. The Justice and Development Party, which had dominated since 2011 before its 2021 decline, saw a notable resurgence with 54 seats. On 29 September 2026, the King appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Head of Government. Her appointment is a milestone, as she is the first woman to hold the position. While she had previously expressed personal reservations about a coalition with the National Rally of Independents, she later signaled openness to negotiations to form a government.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026 Moroccan general election
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