Historic First: Asmaa Rhlalou Elected as Rabat’s First Female Mayor

25 September 2021 – byGinette · 1 min read

The Rally of Independents (RNI) continues its takeover of the largest cities in Morocco. On Friday, it was Asmaa Rhlalou who was elected mayor of Rabat, after several negotiations, a postponement of the voting session and tough negotiations. She thus becomes the first woman to hold this position in the capital.

Asmaa Rhlalou was elected head of the Rabat City Council with 58 votes in favor, 0 against and 06 abstentions out of the 79 votes cast. Her opponent Hassan Lachgar (USFP) obtained 7 votes. The candidacy of the new mayor was supported by the tripartite coalition (RNI, PAM, Istiqlal).

The task was not easy and the RNI, through Asmaa Rhlalou, had to demonstrate strategies. On Thursday, she had invited the most influential members of the Council, as well as the protesters, to her home to bury the hatchet. After the negotiations, Asmaa Rhlalou was finally able to gather 58 votes. Badiaa Bennani, the PJD candidate, had 8 votes, and Hassan Lachgar, the USFP candidate, garnered 7 votes.

Asmaa Rhlalou was a deputy under the banner of the RNI from 2016 to 2021. She is a journalist by profession and obtained a doctorate in economics from the University of Perpignan in France.

Category: Morocco

Keywords:

Rabat Elections National Rally of Independents Asmaa Rhlalou