German Chancellor Angela Merkel (Credit: Time "Choice" story)
Germany's Angela Merkel has been named Time's "Person of the Year" for her perceived steadfastness in the face of adversity and fight "against tyranny," the magazine's editor wrote.
"Leaders are tested only when people don't want to follow," said Time Editor Nancy Gibbs in a widely reported statement. "For asking more of her country than most politicians would dare, for standing firm against tyranny as well as expedience and for providing steadfast moral leadership in a world where it is in short supply, Angela Merkel is Time's 'Person of the Year.'"
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Merkel, at age 61, is only the fourth woman to be selected by Time for the honor, which has been an annual pick since 1927.
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She bests seven other finalists for this year, including Donald Trump, the Black Lives Matter protest movement, Russia's Vladimir Putin, Iraq President Hassan Rouhani, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick and, of consternation to many, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.
On the last, Time had written: "[He's] inspired followers to both fight in his self-declared caliphate of Iraq and Syria, and also stage attacks in countries like Tunisia and France."
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Former Olympian Bruce Jenner, who now goes by Caitlyn Jenner, was also on the magazine's short list for "coming out as a transgender woman," an act that "prompted widespread conversations about gender identity and issues of equality for the LGBT community."
Part of Merkel's draw for the Time deciders was her ability to withstand pressure from Trump over her open-door welcome to refugees from Syria.
"The blowback [for her decision] has come fast and from all sides," Time wrote, in its "Choice" piece. "Donald Trump called Merkel 'insane' and called the refugees 'one of the great Trojan horses.' German protesters called her a traitor, a whore; her allies warned of a popular revolt and her opponents warned of economic collapse and cultural suicide."
