Fatima El Mansouri becomes Morocco's prime minister
First female prime minister named in Morocco after winning elections
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Warm-up
- What makes a good political leader in your view?
- How common are female leaders in your country?
- What are the pros and cons of having a king or queen?
Vocabulary
- appoint
- To officially choose someone for a job or position.
- coalition
- A group of political parties that agree to govern together.
- monarchy
- A system where a king or queen is head of state.
- advocate
- A person who publicly supports a cause or group.
- negotiate
- To discuss in order to reach an agreement.
- opposition
- Parties in parliament that do not form the government.
- parliament
- The elected group that makes national laws.
- majority
- More than half of the total number.
Reading
Listen to this story
American EnglishFatima Zahra El Mansouri was appointed Morocco's first female prime minister after her party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), won the most seats in last week's parliamentary elections. King Mohammed VI made the choice. Her appointment makes her only the second woman to lead a government in the Arab world.
El Mansouri, who is 50 and a lawyer by training, has been mayor of Marrakesh for years and served as a minister in the previous coalition government. She was preferred over Fouzi Lekjaa, a senior figure from the same party. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, and most power remains with the king, who appoints the head of government from the winning party.
With 97 seats, PAM must negotiate a coalition to reach the 198 needed for an absolute majority in the 395-member parliament. Relations with the National Rally of Independents are strained, while the Islamist Justice and Development Party rebounded to 54 seats and says it will stay in opposition. At a press event, El Mansouri praised the king as an advocate for women and avoided debate about religious ceremony protocols.
Comprehension
- Who appointed El Mansouri as prime minister?
- Which party won the most seats in the election?
- How many seats does PAM have, and how many are needed to govern alone?
- Who was the other leading candidate from PAM?
- Which party said it will stay in opposition, and how many seats did it win?
Grammar focus
Relative clauses (non-defining)
Use commas and who/which to add extra, non-essential information. Non-defining clauses are separated by commas and use who for people, which for things.
- El Mansouri, who is 50 and a lawyer by training, has been mayor.
- most power remains with the king, who appoints the head of government
Grammar exercise
Circle the correct option in each sentence.
- PAM, (which / that) won 97 seats, must negotiate a coalition.
- King Mohammed VI, (which / who) made the choice, holds power.
- The National Rally of Independents, (which / who) has strained relations, may not join.
- The Islamist party, (who / which) rebounded to 54 seats, stayed in opposition.
- Fouzi Lekjaa, (who / which) is a senior PAM figure, was not chosen.
Discussion
- Should a monarch appoint the head of government? Why or why not?
- What are the strengths and risks of coalition governments?
- How might a female prime minister affect policy priorities?
- Should parties refuse coalitions on principle, or be flexible?
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