Morocco’s first female Prime Minister, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, faces competing expectations from the monarchy, religious conservatives and women’s rights advocates following her historic appointment.

King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri in September 2026 after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the most seats in the parliamentary election. Her appointment has been welcomed by many women as a breakthrough, but it has also reignited debate over women’s leadership in the Muslim-majority country.

The controversy intensified after former justice minister Mustafa Ramid questioned whether a woman should hold the country’s highest political office, citing a religious saying that suggests societies led by women will not succeed.

Morocco operates as a constitutional monarchy, with the king retaining extensive authority over key areas of governance. This means El Mansouri’s leadership will be shaped not only by parliamentary politics but also by the monarchy’s influence and the country’s religious institutions.

Women’s rights advocates say her appointment will ultimately be judged by whether it produces meaningful policy changes, particularly in family law. Proposed reforms to Morocco’s family code, known as the Moudawana, cover issues including marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. A package announced in 2024 has yet to become law.

Under existing inheritance rules, daughters generally receive half the share of sons in comparable circumstances. Religious scholars have resisted calls for equal inheritance, citing Islamic jurisprudence.

Education is another concern. Official figures cited by the BBC show that in 2025, only 55% of girls aged 15 to 17 in rural areas attended school, compared with 100% in urban areas.

Some analysts have also questioned whether the appointment signals broader political change, noting the king’s continuing influence and low voter turnout in September’s election.

El Mansouri has described her appointment as a milestone for Moroccan women. However, she has yet to publicly outline whether her government will advance the contested family-law reforms.

For women’s rights groups, the central question is whether this historic first will translate into lasting change.