Answering this question was easier when Angela Merkel was in charge. Now it’s tough to say.
Emmanuel Macron is still around, but neither his French constituents nor the rest of Europe appear to buy into his project. Germany has a new chancellor, Olaf Scholz, but Merkel’s shoes seem too big for him. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could make a case, but is undermined by national capitals, particularly those in the East, as well as luminaries in Brussels who feel she’s too close to the Americans.
How about Vladimir Putin, the man who plunged Europe back into war and is single-handedly responsible for the energy and economic crisis the Continent faces? After all, POLITICO’s annual ranking isn’t a Nobel Prize for contributions to statecraft; it’s about identifying power, for good or ill. But Putin doesn’t seem to be exhibiting a lot of it anyway. He’s losing his war, his friends, and Europe’s still standing even with the gas taps turned off.
Whoever it may be, they are likely playing a major role in the multiple crises — climate, economy, war — Europe is currently grappling with. That’s not to say they’re helping — they could also be making things worse.
So who is it? We’re working on our list of who we believe will be Europe’s most powerful in 2023, but we’re curious to hear your suggestions. Is it a Martin Selmayr-style Eurocrat? A tech mogul? A far-right populist? Monsieur Jupiter himself?
Send us your nominations by filling in the form below. We’ll reveal the readers’ choice (and our own) on December 7, which you can register to watch the event online here.
