Angela Merkel
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (C) waves to a crowd as she walks with former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg (2nd R) to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum after laying a memorial wreath next to the Survivor Tree in Manhattan, New York, September 26, 2015. Reuters/Darren Ornitz

Angela Merkel has been named as Time Magazine's Person of the Year. The German chancellor was hailed for addressing the Greek bankruptcy and asylum seekers crisis that had put together the European Union.

Following Merkel on the list are Islamic State extremist group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, US presidential candidate Donald Trump, America's Black Lives Matter activists, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

As Nancy Gibbs, editor of Time Magazine, explained, Merkel got the accolade for her fearless stance in socio-political issues. "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," Gibbs wrote.

Merkel’s bold move to open Germany's doors to asylum seekers had left a legacy to her reputation.

Gibbs added that Merkel has emerged as an important figure in managing Europe’s serial debt crises. Merkel led the response in the West to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea in Ukraine. Gibbs also praised Merkel for her vital involvement in the issue of Greek bankruptcy that threatened the existence of the euro zone.

Meanwhile, Trump bashed the German leader after landing third place on the list. He mentioned how Time Magazine "picked the person who is ruining Germany" in a tweet.

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