By: Harleen Kaur
TIME released their annual person of the year along with their short list early this December. TIME released a poll allowing the public to see and vote on the nominees for person of the year for 2015. There was a total of 59 nominees, and many voted down by the public. The nominees included Malala Yousafzai, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marco Rubio, Amy Schumer, and many more. But Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, received the title.
On the cover of the magazine TIME described her as the, “Chancellor of the Free World.” Merkel was recognized for her work with Greece during their financial crisis and her leadership during the European Migrant Crisis. She received the position of Chancellor in 2005 and has been leading the world’s fourth largest economy. She has repeatedly been underestimated by the world community due to her policy of cautiousness and what Time described as, “Leading from behind.” But throughout the many crises of 2015 Merkel stepped in to help the situation.
Germany helped bail out Greece during its economic crisis yet only on Merkel’s strict terms. Germany also accepted refugees who had been victims of radical Islam while also deploying troops to ISIS. And through Merkel’s strong leadership she has been able to reestablish Germany’s tarnished reputation.
Although, many German protesters have called her a traitor over the years, and have said that she is leading their country towards economic collapse and cultural suicide. Yet, Merkel has emerged a determined, welcoming leader who has provided the world with more help and leadership than most.
Angela Merkel has emerged as TIME’s person of the year in 2015 due to her strong moral leadership in a year where there have been many international crises including the Paris attacks, Putin’s control of Ukraine, bankruptcy in Greece, and the rising migrant crisis. And along with Merkel, TIME also released a short list of other leaders in 2015. This list included Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS leader; Donald Trump, frontrunner of the Republican Party; Black Lives Matter, the US civil rights movement against police brutality; Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President; Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber; and Caitlyn Jenner, a transgender woman who was a former Olympian.
