Time magazine has named German chancellor Angela Merkel its Person of the Year, citing her resolve in leading Europe through this summer’s Greek debt crisis, and her encouragement of other countries to open their borders to migrants and refugees, the Guardian reported.
Merkel is only the fourth woman to ever be named Person of the Year, after Time opened up the contest to women in 1936. She is the first to be awarded the title since 1986.
Merkel was described as a political climber, a practitioner of “the politics of baby steps”, either outlasting or outwitting rivals. She was born in eastern Germany behind a Soviet stockade in 1954, and trained as a quantum chemist. After entering politics in her 30s, she rose through the ranks, to be elected chancellor in 2005. This is her 10th year in office. Her style of governance was described by Time as “resolutely dull”.
Nevertheless, this year, one of the most tumultuous in recent European history, has tested the German leader’s mettle, Time editors said.
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