(VOVworld) – AFP journalists have chosen Angela Merkel as the most influential figure of 2015 after the German chancellor stamped her mark on the European migrant and Greek financial crises.

German chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: AFP Photo)

The chancellor's open-door policy brought around a million refugees to Germany throughout 2015. Merkel also made a great contribution to solving Greece’s long-lasting financial crisis. A vote by the editorial staff from all AFP services across the world put Russian President Vladimir Putin as number two on the list of people who most influenced world affairs during the year. He was followed by Pope Francis.