Angela Merkel Named Time’s ‘Person of the Year’
In a statement explaining the magazine’s choice, managing editor Nancy Gibbs said that the European refugee crisis and the “Grexit” discussion caused “reason to wonder whether Europe could continue to exist”. Donald, being the actual grump that he is, complained over Twitter about Time not choosing him despite being a “favorite”, and picking someone who is “ruining Germany”. “By year’s end, she had steered the enterprise through not one but two existential crises, either of which could have meant the end of the union that has kept peace on the continent for seven decades”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been selected as TIME magazine’s “Person of the Year”.
Only five women in history have been honoured with the title – not including the TIME Person of the Year award in 1975 which was dedicated to all American women.
This year was the biggest test for Merkel, being the year of the greatest challenges for Europe.
Time also cited Merkel’s strong response to what it described as “Vladimir Putin’s creeping theft of Ukraine” and, on its cover, called her “Chancellor of the Free World”.
Raised in East Germany, she’s gone from child of the Cold War to champion of the European Union.
Although all deserving of commendation, Angela’s presence in politics has meant a great deal to many women and morevoer, her supporters unanimously agree that she has helped keep peace in a particularly unsettled year.
German-born Albert Einstein was chosen as Person of the Century in 1999.
Other Time Magazine finalists were ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-baghdadi, transgender figure Caitlyn Jenner, Black Lives Matter activists, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate and businessman reality television star.
“I’m sure the chancellor will regard this as an encouragement for her political work, for a good future for Germany as well as for Europe”, Ms Seibert said.
Merkel said she was not the first chancellor who has had to face a struggle.