Morocco: PAM Forms Coalition as Fatima Zahra Mansouri Becomes First Female PM

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in Morocco, which won the parliamentary elections, announced the formation of a four-party coalition and a government led by Fatima Zahra Mansouri. After receiving the mandate from King Mohammed VI and forming the coalition, Mansouri becomes the first woman to hold the position in the kingdom.

The four parties making up the coalition are the PAM, the royal-leaning Istiqlal Party, the Socialist Union, and the Party of Progress and Socialism. In effect, this is a center-left government. The PAM is also considered aligned with the royal palace, and Mansouri herself supports ties and normalization with Israel. The coalition holds 207 out of 395 seats.

Next, consultations will be held between the parties regarding ministerial portfolios. Meanwhile, the new coalition outlined its priorities, foremost among them: "Improving living conditions, strengthening civil rights and freedoms, achieving social justice and equality, supporting economic prosperity, and empowering local economic capabilities." It was also noted that "the appointment of a woman as prime minister, for the first time in the kingdom's history, is a historic milestone with profound symbolic significance."

The outgoing ruling party RNI, which had been a PAM coalition partner, dropped to 66 seats and remains in the opposition. Similarly, the Islamist Justice and Development Party, which strengthened to 54 seats, will also remain in opposition.