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Time magazine has named GermanChancellor Angela Merkel as their Person of the Year. The publication uneveiledtheir 2015 honoree on Wednesday morning.
The 61-year-old, who became the Chancellor of Germany back in 2005, is the first individual womanin 29 years to hold the title Person of the Year. The last woman to be recognized with the honor was Philippine President Corazon Aquino in 1986. Time refers to their 2015 choice, as “themost powerful woman in the world.”
Photo: Courtesy of Time
As for why Angela was selected, Time's Managing Editor NancyGibbs wrote in an essay: “Merkel had already emerged as the indispensableplayer in managing Europe’s serial debt crises; she also led the West’sresponse to Vladimir Putin’s creeping theft of Ukraine. But now the prospect ofGreek bankruptcy threatened the very existence of the euro zone. The migrantand refugee crisis challenged the principle of open borders. And finally, thecarnage in Paris revived the reflex to slam doors, build walls and trust noone. Each time Merkel stepped in.”
Photo: Getty Images
She continued, “For asking more of her countrythan most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well asexpedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it isin short supply, Angela Merkel is TIME’s Person of the Year.”
While Angela took home the coveted title this year, the politician was joined by other notable figures on magazine's shortlist including, Caitlyn Jenner, ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, Black Lives Matter activists, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and Donald Trump. Better luck in 2016!