For the third consecutive year, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been named the world’s most powerful person by Forbes magazine.
“Putin continues to prove he’s one of the few men in the world powerful enough to do what he wants — and get away with it,” the financial magazine’s editors said Wednesday.
The top five were rounded out by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Obama, Pope Francis and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
In 2014, Obama was in second place and Forbes editors said the president’s slip shouldn’t come as a surprise.
“There’s no doubt that the United States remains the world’s greatest economic, cultural, diplomatic, technological and military power,” according to Forbes.
“But as Obama enters the final year of his presidency, it’s clear his influence is shrinking, and it’s a bigger struggle than ever to get things done.”
Forbes tabbed Putin as the world’s most powerful man based on his ability to flout US and world dictates and get away with it — whether it be Russia’s continued involvement in Ukraine or support for despised Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad.
Merkel gained points for her strong leadership in guiding Europe through Greece’s debt debacle and the Syrian refugee crisis.