Russian President Vladimir Putin Named World’s ‘Most Powerful’ Man for 2016

Dec 14, 2016: Russian President Vladimir Putin has been named the world's most powerful man for 2016 by Forbes magazine, the fourth straight year he has won.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump came in second, according to the magazine, which issued its annual list Wednesday.

"Russia's president has exerted his country's influence in nearly every corner of the globe," according to the business magazine.

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Forbes said the 64-year-old president "continues to get what he wants," as he is "unconstrained by conventional global norms (and) his reach has magnified in recent years."

While Putin maintained his hold on the title, Trump was a big mover on the list, rising from number 72 last year to two this year. The reason for the move, according to the magazine, is his "seeming immunity to scandal" having both houses of Congress from the Republican Party as well as his net worth.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was listed as the third most powerful person by the magazine, and China's Xi Jinping took fourth, while Pope Francis was fifth.

Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama dropped from number two last year to 48 this year. (VOA)