President Obama has fallen to second place in Forbes magazine's annual list of the world's most powerful people — trailing Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Forbes
began its analysis with the question "who's more powerful: the
autocratic leader of a former superpower or the handcuffed commander in
chief of the most dominant country in the world?"
The magazine went with Putin, who finished second in last year's poll behind Obama.
Writes Forbes:
"Putin
has solidified his control over Russia while Obama's lame duck period
has seemingly set in earlier than usual for a two-term president —
latest example: the government shutdown mess. Anyone watching this
year's chess match over Syria and NSA leaks has a clear idea of the
shifting individual power dynamics."
It's only the second time in his presidency that Obama has not topped the Forbes power poll.
Obama
finished second in 2010 to China's then-president Hu Jintao. The
current Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, finished third in the latest survey.
A newcomer — Pope Francis — finished fourth.
In
fifth place: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, an outspoken critic of
National Security Council surveillance policies in other countries.
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