Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Tuesday appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country’s first female prime minister after her Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the most seats in last week’s parliamentary elections.

The 50-year-old lawyer, who has served as mayor of Marrakesh and as a minister in the previous coalition government, will now negotiate with other parties to form a coalition after PAM failed to secure an outright majority.

El Mansouri campaigned heavily on addressing youth unemployment, the rising cost of living and social inequalities, promising to “restore hope” among young Moroccans facing growing economic pressures.

As prime minister, El Mansouri will oversee preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup and continue work on the government’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara.

Morocco is a constitutional monarchy in which the king retains significant powers over foreign policy, defence and other key areas.