Angela Merkel is TIME's person of the year

[Habbaku]

[Gups]

That's fair. She's had a very impressive year.

Indeed, even if one or two of her policies come unstuck, there's no arguing she's been the most influential European leader by far. In contrast look at the peripheral figure Cameron has been this year.

It seems since the Cold War there's been few "big" politicians in Western Europe. I'm thinking of people who had a major impact and influence (for better of worse) like Brandt, Schmidt, Kohl, Thatcher, Giscard D'Estaing, Mitterrand, ...

Western Europe just isn't that important any more. Merkel and Blair are the only real candidates I think.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

What's her timetable for war?

about 2 million immigrants more?

[Admiral Yi]

Does anyone read Time magazine anymore? Any readers left are probably old, and Merkel is old, so it is probably reassuring to them.

I think I've seen it in the odd doctor or dentist's office.

[The Minsky Moment]

Is there any other viable candidate so far for leader of the 21st century?
Putin, in a negative sense.
Maybe Wen Jiabao, but assigning personal "credit" in the PRC system is tricky.

[Zanza]

She and Putin are the only noteworthy European leaders of the decade, so why not name her.

[Legbiter]

Allahu Akbar!

[Duque de Bragança]

Legbiter is right they should have considered Erdogan too.