Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has formally appointed a new government led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, making her the first woman to head the North African country’s administration.

El Mansouri’s centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged victorious in September’s parliamentary elections and formed a coalition with the right-wing Istiqlal Party and two smaller left-wing parties.

The alliance controls 210 of the 395 seats in parliament, providing the new administration with a legislative majority.

The incoming cabinet retains 13 ministers from the previous government, including Nasser Bourita as foreign affairs minister and Abdelouafi Laftit as interior minister.

Fouzi Lekjaa, who served as budget minister in the previous administration and heads the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, has been appointed economy minister.

Women occupy seven positions in the 31-member cabinet, including the prime minister’s office. This maintains the level of female representation recorded in the outgoing government.

Following her appointment by the king on Friday, El Mansouri pledged to implement an ambitious government programme that responds to citizens’ expectations.

Her administration faces pressure to address rising living costs, unemployment and economic inequality, which were major concerns during the September elections. The poll recorded the lowest voter turnout in nearly two decades.

The new government must also oversee preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

El Mansouri’s appointment marks a historic change in Morocco’s political leadership, as her administration begins work on addressing domestic economic challenges while preparing the country for the international sporting event.