Get the app

How is Morocco's new coalition government taking shape?

Morocco now has its first woman head of government, and a cabinet sworn in only three weeks after the vote. The coalition has a majority, but a narrow one, and its programme has not yet been put to parliament.

Published 22 Oct 2026 Updated 22 Oct 2026 By Implica 9 sources 7 min read

THE SHORT ANSWER

It has taken shape in three steps: a royal appointment, a party deal and a cabinet named at the palace. After the September 23 election, King Mohammed VI named Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) head of government on September 29. On October 12 her party agreed a coalition with Istiqlal, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) and the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS). Together they hold 207 of 395 seats. On October 16 the king appointed a 32-member government. It still needs a confidence vote in the House of Representatives.

What happened

Morocco held legislative elections on September 23, 2026. PAM, a centrist party, finished first with 97 seats. On September 29 King Mohammed VI appointed its leader, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, as head of government under Article 47 of the constitution and asked her to build a cabinet. She is the first woman to hold the post. She held two rounds of consultations with parties in parliament.

On Monday, October 12, PAM, Istiqlal, the USFP and the PPS announced a joint majority in Rabat. The PPS political bureau had decided earlier that day to join. The four hold 207 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, nine more than the 198 needed. Their statement spoke of social justice, reducing regional gaps, rights and freedoms, and a stronger national economy. They said they would propose ministers chosen for competence and integrity, and would prepare a government programme as soon as possible. They gave no date for either.

On Friday, October 16, the king presided over the appointment ceremony at the Royal Palace in Rabat. The government has 32 members: El Mansouri, 20 ministers and 11 ministers delegate, who assist full ministers. According to one report, PAM holds 10 posts, Istiqlal six, the USFP five and the PPS three, and seven ministers have no party. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit and Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi kept their posts. Fouzi Lekjaa moved from budget minister to minister of economy and finance. PPS leader Nabil Benabdallah became education minister. A new ministry covers artificial intelligence and digital transformation. El Mansouri must now present her programme to the House and win a confidence vote before the government can take up its work.

Why it matters

The government takes over the last stretch of a $20 billion push to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco co-hosts with Portugal and Spain. It also faces pressure over jobs, education and health, grievances that fuelled last year's Gen Z protests and the Ceuta migration crisis in July. Reuters reports that the vote is not expected to change policy direction, because the king keeps sweeping powers over foreign policy, defence and other key portfolios.

  • For the opposition, The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) is not in the coalition. That is Implica's reading of the list of four partners; the reports so far do not say whether it was consulted. Its place outside government may sharpen its criticism when the 2027 budget arrives.
  • For the coalition parties, Each has a share of posts, and the PPS gets education. The gap between PAM and the two socialist parties could slow work on the programme.
  • For women in politics, Seven of the 32 members are women, including El Mansouri. Only two others hold full ministries, energy and family affairs. Reports differ on the earlier count, one saying seven and another six.
  • For voters, especially the young, Turnout in September was 38 percent, the lowest in 20 years. The new cabinet must show results on jobs, schools and clinics.

The background: a monarchy where the king appoints an elected government

A constitution and a powerful king

Morocco's first constitution was adopted in 1962, six years after the country regained independence. It was ratified by referendum on December 7 and promulgated on December 14. Hassan II, who became king in 1961, ruled until his death in 1999, when his son Mohammed VI took the throne.

Today the constitution defines Morocco as a constitutional monarchy. The king presides over the Council of Ministers and appoints the prime minister after legislative elections. He appoints the other ministers on the prime minister's recommendation. After the 1998 elections, a coalition led by the opposition socialist Abderrahmane Youssoufi took office. It was the first time in decades that opposition parties led a Moroccan government.

2011: protests and a revised constitution

In 2011, protests demanded democratic reforms. On June 17 the king announced constitutional changes. The draft would require him to name the prime minister from the largest party in parliament. It would also hand some of his powers to the prime minister, including dissolving parliament. A referendum on July 1 reportedly approved the changes with 98.49 percent of the vote.

Early elections followed on November 25, 2011. The PJD won the most seats. Because the system is proportional, no single party usually wins a majority, so governments are coalitions. The PJD stayed the largest party in 2016, with 125 of 395 seats. The 2026 appointment of the leader of the largest party fits the rule in that 2011 draft. That link is Implica's own.

PAM: a party built close to the palace

PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, an adviser to King Mohammed VI. Its main aim was to counter the rise of the PJD. Because of its founders' ties to the palace, opponents have attacked it as directed by the monarchy. It describes itself as reformist and modernist, with social liberal and centre-left policies.

After the 2011 election PAM, with 47 seats, went into opposition. It won 102 seats in 2016 and finished second. In 2021 it won 87 seats and was again second, but this time it joined the government for the first time. Since February 2024 it has had a collective leadership of three people, with El Mansouri as coordinator.

The 2021 coalition and the 2026 election

In the 2021 elections the National Rally of Independents (RNI) became the largest party, and the PJD lost many seats. RNI leader Aziz Akhannouch formed a coalition with PAM and Istiqlal. His cabinet was sworn in on October 7, 2021. The new coalition replaces the RNI with the USFP and the PPS. The reports so far do not say why.

On September 23, 2026, PAM won 97 seats, the most of any party. Turnout was 38 percent. On September 29 the king appointed El Mansouri. Two rounds of consultations followed. The four-party majority was announced on October 12, and the cabinet was sworn in four days later.

GOOD TO KNOW

Fouzi Lekjaa, the new finance minister, also heads the Moroccan football federation and the committee preparing the 2030 World Cup.

Why does 198 seats matter?

The House of Representatives has 395 members. Of these, 305 are elected in local constituencies and 90 from national lists. The national lists include 60 seats reserved for women and 30 for young candidates. A majority is 198 seats.

The coalition holds 207, a cushion of nine. If a few members vote against the government, it could lose a contested vote. That is Implica's reading of the numbers. The government must first win a confidence vote on its programme.

What does the king do when a government is formed?

The king appoints the prime minister after legislative elections. On the prime minister's recommendation he appoints the ministers. He chairs the Council of Ministers and can dismiss ministers. He can also dissolve parliament after consulting its presiding officers.

That is why Reuters expects no change of policy direction. The king keeps sweeping powers over foreign policy and defence, and the foreign, interior and justice ministers stayed in place.

Timeline: 1962 to today

CONSTITUTION AND MONARCHY

  1. Morocco's first constitution is promulgated, after a referendum a week earlier.

  2. After the legislative elections, a coalition led by opposition socialist Abderrahmane Youssoufi takes office.

  3. Hassan II dies and his son Mohammed VI takes the throne.

REFORM AND THE RISE OF PAM

  1. PAM is founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, an adviser to the king.

  2. The king announces constitutional reforms, including naming the prime minister from the largest party.

  3. A referendum reportedly approves the new constitution.

  4. The Islamist PJD wins the most seats and forms the government; PAM goes into opposition.

COALITION GOVERNMENTS

  1. The PJD wins 125 of 395 seats and PAM comes second with 102.

  2. The RNI becomes the largest party and the PJD falls sharply; PAM wins 87 seats.

  3. Aziz Akhannouch's cabinet, a coalition of the RNI, PAM and Istiqlal, is sworn in.

  4. PAM adopts a collective leadership, with Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as coordinator.

THE 2026 GOVERNMENT

  1. PAM wins 97 seats in the legislative elections, the most of any party.

  2. The king appoints El Mansouri head of government, the first woman in the post.

  3. PAM, Istiqlal, the USFP and the PPS announce a four-party majority of 207 of 395 seats.

  4. The king appoints a 32-member government; it still needs a confidence vote.

What to watch next

  • The confidence vote. El Mansouri must present her programme to the House of Representatives and win a confidence vote before the government can take up its work.
  • The government programme. The four parties said they would prepare it as soon as possible, but the reports so far give no date.
  • The 2027 budget. It is likely to be the first big test of the narrow majority, with the PJD outside government.
  • The World Cup preparations. The new cabinet takes over the final stages of the $20 billion push for 2030, with Lekjaa now at the finance ministry.

Sources

How this article was made: Implica's editorial system wrote it from the news reports above, with the background drawn from Wikipedia: History of Morocco, Politics of Morocco, Constitution of Morocco, Authenticity and Modernity Party.

The short version of stories
like this, every day.

Each story takes a minute to read. Ask a question or tap a name whenever you want to go deeper. Free to download.

DOWNLOAD ON THEApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play