Morocco's first female prime minister caught between the king, clerics, and feminists

El Mansouri's royal appointment was historic but it exposed persistent reservations about women in positions of power.The day after her appointment, local broadcaster Chouf TV took to the streets to ask Moroccan men "what they thought" of a woman heading the government.Several men, mostly middle-aged or older, hesitated before answering. Some said they accepted the decision because it was the king's choice.One grey-haired man, who did not give his name or age, said: "It feels strange to have a woman as head of government. I'm not sure if it sits well with me."Criticism of the monarchy carries legal risks in Morocco. The penal code criminalises certain forms of offence or insult against the king, the royal family and the monarchy.Online, the appointment became fodder for political satire. A video showing two women pulling each other's hair was widely shared, with captions suggesting that this is what parliamentary disagreements between El Mansouri and her colleagues might look like.However many younger Moroccans, especially women, welcomed her appointment.While attitudes are changing in Morocco, conservative, religious views still hold great weight.Some of the country's most content...