Merkel Declared Most Powerful Woman in The World (Plus See the Entire Top Ten Slideshow)
The German chancellor won against many highly-qualified candidates because of her widely accepted role as the “undisputed” leader of the EU, that is, she is the politician many consider to be Europe’s last great hope.
Germany has had the good fortune of being the eurozone’s largest creditor, and many believe that they hold the key to resolving the euro zone’s sovereign-debt crisis. Furthermore, by virtue of the fact that they are the continent’s chief economic heavyweight, they are the main determinant of the European Union’s direction.
Right now, the eurozone crisis is precariously balanced. Europe may be embarking on a path that could tilt the union away from economic liberalism, risking a split and, ultimately, even a British exit, reports The Economist. In lieu of what may be an impending disaster, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown wrote an op-ed begging Merkel to reconsider eurobonds and to save the EU. His sentiments have been repeated verbatim (and on numerous occasions) by the currency market speculator George Soros.
In the past, Merkel has displayed exemplary behavior and has demonstrated an imperturbability of character while dealing with the EU. She has resisted the idea of regular euro-zone summits to ensure that the British, Poles and Swedes had seats at the table. She has also resisted, in various forms, the suggestion that the PIIGs (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece) should be collectively rescued.
However, recent events have forced emergency meetings of the EU in which 10 countries have been excluded. Despite violating one of her standing rules, she has attended these meetings. Perhaps because they could be of benefit to Mrs. Merkel. She could use them as an opportunity to soothe her voters’ current anxieties about the euro, although the future price could be large, according to Business Insider.
The European Union has long suffered from an internal struggle between two differing factions: economic liberalism that favors openness to the world and economic nationalism that “prefers a fortress.” Mrs. Merkel has commonly considered the latter a desideratum and has, in degrees, opposed the former.
If the euro zone moves towards right-leaning fiscal and economic-policies, it may make the entire organization less welcoming to liberals—and less appealing even to those in Britain (including Prime Minister Cameron) who have an invested interest in staying with the EU. So the question for Mrs. Merkel is this: where will you take the EU?
And it is precisely because she is the one being asked these questions that she has been dubbed the “most powerful woman in the world.”
For those still interested, among the names that follow Merkel’s on the Forbes list are Hilary Clinton, Dilma Rousseff (President of Brazil), and Michelle Obama.
Photo 1 of 11
Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods
Photo 2 of 11
French Finance Minister. She has been chosen to lead the International Monetary Fund. She will become the first female managing director of the global lending organization.
Photo 3 of 11
U.S. First Lady.
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United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government Chairwoman. China and India's premiers agreed December 16 to double bilateral trade to 100 billion dollars by 2015.
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Wife of Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Facebook's second-in-command has helped grow its 70 million user base into over 750 million active "friends."
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Chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo Inc.
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President of Brazil.
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U.S. Secretary of State.
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German Chancellor.
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German Chancellor.
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Comments (48)
goatrope67
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 1:51pmWow…you people are definitely in the shallow end. Defining these women as “hags” or commenting on whether they look happy or not. Luckily the voting wasn’t done by people like you, or we’d be seeing a host of talentless hacks that just look pretty good in a photo. And, as I expected, a long-shot remark that it was “Lefties” that voted for all of these women. Seems as if you cannot find any other argument to hang your hat on, so you’re left with the “Lefties did it” argument. Way to go.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:41pm… Merkel is voted most powerful WhoaMan? Doesn’t look like a WhoaMan to me. That’s a man, baby!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 4:43pm… yeah, say, I got a ROPE for yer GOAT, and it’s 67″ long, jerkoff …
Report Post »nelan72
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 1:32pmWhat no Lady GaGa?
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:32pmWhere is Bwarney Fwank did she fall out of the top ten ,was it the fart ? She will be crying in her pillow.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 11:36amHow exactly did that fat cow Moochelle Make the list?
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 12:25pmAA basically.
Report Post »TrailBlazer66
Posted on August 27, 2011 at 4:11pmEver since the illegal take over of the U.S. Black House, she has become infamous for her role as an accomplice in crime going on to win the Global award for the title of “First Hog”. God help us, I hope there is no 2nd Hog on the horizon. Come on Allen West and run for Prez!
Report Post »Kerri g
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:35amWonder how well Germany would fair economically if the U.S. Millitary were not there by the tens of thousands spending American dollars in that country. They would be on fire just like the rest of Europe. I think we should bring a few thousand of those troops home and put them on our Southern boarder. You know, to defend our country from invading immagrants, criminals and muslim terrorist. But that would make too much sence wouldn’t it.
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:21amSHe won’t be the most powerful woman in the world for long! With German elections next month, and German citizens enraged at her for bailing out the PIIGS countries, she probably will lose her office in a few weeks.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:21am.
Report Post »My first thought was, “I’ll bet Oprah is pissed.”
Then when I saw Hillary at #2, I thought, “Exactly what has she done?”
Then I saw Michelle in the list, I thought, “What the hell, has she accomplished,
they give awards for vacation queen?”
TrailBlazer66
Posted on August 27, 2011 at 4:14pmNo, she won the global award for “First Hog” and I sure hope she’ll be the last!
Report Post »Epic Fail
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:03amHillary is #2 MPW. That’s sad. She is a joke. Doesn’t say much for women if this idiot is #2.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 10:03amOh come on. we all know Moochelle is the most powerful woman in the world…..
Oh wait….. I thought you said the woman with the biggest A$$ in the world.
Report Post »hellnomo
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 3:14pmHave you noticed the wings on Air Force One sagging as of late, it was never designed to be a bulk meat carrier.
Report Post »AntiLiberal74
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:49amShe looks like the big metal dude on Queen‘s ’News of the World’ album cover…
Report Post »BeckaBrwnEyes
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:47amOh dear. If this woman is the best hope for Europe, I do believe Europe has seen its better days. I thought that anyway, but well. Nah. I could find five women in my neighborhood who could out-think this hag in their sleep.
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:34amI take that back .. damn you photo shop !!
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 9:33amSheryl Sandberg is a hottie !!
Report Post »The_Outlaw
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:55amAll of these so called most powerful ‘women’ look mean as hell to me. Maybe the predicted antichrist within the Bible i one of these b*tche$! Scary thought.
Report Post »MrHr1207
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:41amwhat a bunch of commies ! It’s also BS !! The queen is # 1 after that any women rothschild and then prob any women rockefeller !
Report Post »MaggieRose
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:32amWow! All that money and all that power and they all look so tight-lipped and unhappy! No thanks! I’ll keep my TRUE top-ten inspirations… the lovely ladies that will never make anyone’s international list… my beautiful mother, my free-spirited sister, my fiesty over 80 mentors, my “nobody” girlfriends that light up my world with their smiles.
Report Post »Bloody Sam
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:34amWow! Hillary must be PI$$ED!
Report Post »christos
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:30am……Step aside angry birds,Bitter & Scorned Women app.is more progressive,,,
Report Post »notmeatglennbeckdotcom
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:23amSimply according to airtime, it is Kim Kardashian – hands down. If you missed O‘Reilly’s Miller Time segment this week, Dennis said it best, “They (the Kardashians) got nothin’…and they’ve turned that into $80,000,000 a year.” Only in America!!
Politically speaking it has to be Ahmadinejad. He’s been the b**** of the Imam’s all these years.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:20amNot surprised! Have you ever had a Dunkel!!!!
Report Post »Dr. Insane O
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:29amThe article should be entitled “Most Homely Woman in the World”
Report Post »FedUpWithLeft
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:20amApparently only certain people get to pick these women and i’m sure their from the left. They sure wouldn’t be any pick of mine. Oh maybe one or two might
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:27amWhat no “OPRAH”………………..bet she’s pissed.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:01amHey peoples, the “Euro” was created to undermine the US dollar. Those Europeans wanted to tell the USA – “We don’t need no stinking dollars”. BUT, the Euro is a dismal failure. The United Kingdom refused to join in the madness, and kept their pounds.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:50amMichelle looks like she‘s mad she didn’t make number one. And they couldn’t have found a better picture of Hillary? E-gads.
Report Post »Diane TX
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:04amNope, Hillary really looks like an old hag.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:13amafter looking at these pics, I might back off on my stance on gay marriage
Report Post »Ranubis
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 6:39am@RepubliCorp…ROGL!!!
Report Post »Want our country back
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 7:05amUrgh, Michelle has 25+ personal handlers and they couldn‘t find a dress where the armpit doesn’t look all frayed…..LOL,
Bill Gates wife looks lovely and happy.
Report Post »southernORcobra
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 8:23amno better picture exists
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 26, 2011 at 5:43amWell, I bet that just chaps moochie, hillarybillary, nancypee, maximuswatermain, sjlee, and others lefty loonies…… HA!!!!
Makes me smile just thinking of the temper tantrums…………
Report Post »