Forbes names Merkel most powerful woman

Forbes magazine named German Chancellor Angela Merkel the world’s most powerful woman, calling her the “undisputed” leader of the EU and head of its only “real global economy”.

Ms Merkel, who has topped the list of the world’s 100 most powerful women in all but one of the years since she became Chancellor in November 2005, beat out US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and, in third place, Dilma Rousseff, who became Brazil’s first woman President on January 1.

“German Chancellor Angela Merkel is head of the one real global economy in Europe and is the ‘undisputed’ leader of the EU,” Forbes said.

“Although overseeing a booming economy and falling unemployment, she contends with a weakening support base and crisis in the eurozone, where Germany is often in the unenviable position of bailing out its weaker neighbours.

“She is out to stabilise EU debt and keep the 17-member euro zone unified.” It was Ms Merkel’s fifth time at the top of the list.

The 57-year-old politician led it from 2006 to 2009 but then was bumped back to 4th place last year by US First Lady Michelle Obama, Kraft Foods chief executive officer Irene Rosenfeld, and chat-show host Oprah Winfrey.

Ms Clinton, listed 5th in 2010, climbed to the second rung after more than two gruelling years as President Barack Obama’s top diplomat.

“ Ms Clinton continues to earn high marks for advancing US interests and policies overseas and pushing women’s issues, development and education to the top of the foreign policy agenda,” Forbes said.

After Ms Rousseff was Indra Nooyi, the India-born, naturalised American chief executive officer of Pepsi; Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg; philanthropist Melinda Gates, India President Sonia Gandhi, Mrs Obama, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, and Rosenfeld.