Which World Figures Should Be on the 2014 TIME 100?

April 10, 2014

While TIME’s editors will choose the TIME 100 — our annual list of the most influential people in the world — we want readers to have a say too. Cast your vote here for the people who you think have changed the world this past year, for better or worse. Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. on April 22, and the winner of our reader poll will be announced April 23. This year’s official TIME 100 list will be announced April 24.

Click here to vote in other categories: U.S. Politics, Business & Tech, Culture & Fashion, Movies & TV, Music, Media and Sports. See the poll results in real time here.

Contact us at editors@time.com.

Abdullah Gul

Widely seen as the alternative to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey’s ruling party, Gul has walked a fine line between party loyalty and counterbalancing Erdogan’s authoritarian streak.

Shinzo Abe

Abe’s unorthodox approach to fixing Japan’s postbubble economy, dubbed Abenomics, seems to be paying off, with the Nikkei up nearly 57% at the end of 2013.

Sheikha al-Mayassa

Al-Mayassa oversees Qatar’s Museum Authority, which in 2012 acquired a $250 million Cézanne, the priciest purchase of a painting to date.

Arvind Kejriwal

As leader of India’s Aam Aadmi Party, Kejriwal managed to turn a grassroots anticorruption movement into a political force that took New Delhi by surprise last year, defeating the major parties in local elections.

Bashar Assad

As Syria’s civil war pushes into its fourth year, President Assad remains firm in waging war on his own people, with no signs of the humanitarian crisis abating.

Aliko Dangote

This Nigerian cement mogul is not only Africa¹s richest man but also its most generous, especially after announcing a $1.2 billion donation to his own foundation in early 2014.

Abu Dua

This elusive figure has transformed Iraq’s branch of al-Qaeda into ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria), a fearsome terrorist group that stretches across the Levant.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi

As one of the men who helped bring down former President Mohamed Morsi, this military commander and devout Muslim is now a popular candidate for Egypt’s presidency.

Pope Francis

The new Pontiff’s dedication to helping those in need, paired with his frank speech, has only bolstered his reputation as a champion of the people.

Bill Gates

The technology pioneer — who reclaimed his title as world’s richest person in 2013 — spends most of his time working with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on projects like eradicating polio but recently came back to Microsoft as an adviser to new CEO Satya Nadella.

Xi Jinping

China’s newly elected President seems poised to lead his country into a new era by focusing on economic overhaul, cybersecurity and a strong military presence.

Kim Jong Un

The North Korean dictator’s continued aggression toward South Korea and threats of a nuclear weapon make him a constant concern for world leaders.

Christine Lagarde

The first woman to head the International Monetary Fund is looking for ways to address income inequality across the globe.

Marine Le Pen

As president of the French far-right National Front, Le Pen recently led her party to victory in local elections around the country.

Angela Merkel

Germany’s Chancellor is a key player in the ongoing international negotiations over Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Narendra Modi

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader known for his no-nonsense approach is likely to become India’s next Prime Minister.

José Mujica

Uruguay’s President is known for his commitment to austerity measures, ditching the state palace for a farmhouse. He made headlines at the end of 2013 when the country became the first to fully legalize marijuana.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina

The two former feminist punk rockers were freed from a Russian prison at the end of last year after serving time for political activism against Vladimir Putin.

Vladimir Putin

Russia’s President came under fire for the country’s military invasion of the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine, after a surprisingly smooth Sochi Winter Olympics.

Rahul Gandhi

As the front man for India’s Congress Party, Gandhi is speaking out about female empowerment and the need for more political involvement from India’s youth.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Turkey’s authoritarian Prime Minister overcame antigovernment protests and a corruption scandal to score a huge win in local elections.

Matteo Renzi

At 39, Italy’s youngest-ever Prime Minister took office in early 2014 and must now grapple with the nation’s worst economic slump since World War II.

Edward Snowden

Since the NSA whistle-blower leaked government documents, he has sought asylum in Russia, while publications like ‘Der Spiegel’ and the ‘Intercept’ continue to drop bombs from his document download.

Tom Steyer

The billionaire hedge-fund manager founded the environmental organization NextGen Climate in 2013 and is spearheading an ad campaign on climate change with nearly $100 million of his own money.

Malala Yousafzai

Since surviving a 2012 assassination attempt by the Taliban, the teen activist has become a voice for girls’ education and published her memoir, I Am Malala, last year.

Which U.S. political figures should be on the TIME 100? Vote now.

Click here to vote in other categories: Business & Tech, Culture & Fashion, Movies & TV, Music, Media, and Sports. See the poll results in real time here.

Which World Figures Should Be on the 2014 TIME 100?

Abdullah Gul

Shinzo Abe

Sheikha al-Mayassa

Arvind Kejriwal

Bashar Assad

Aliko Dangote

Abu Dua

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi

Pope Francis

Bill Gates

Xi Jinping

Kim Jong Un

Christine Lagarde

Marine Le Pen

Angela Merkel

Narendra Modi

José Mujica

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina

Vladimir Putin

Rahul Gandhi

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Matteo Renzi

Edward Snowden

Tom Steyer

Malala Yousafzai

SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT

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Which World Figures Should Be on the 2014 TIME 100?

Abdullah Gul

Shinzo Abe

Sheikha al-Mayassa

Arvind Kejriwal

Bashar Assad

Aliko Dangote

Abu Dua

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi

Pope Francis

Bill Gates

Xi Jinping

Kim Jong Un

Christine Lagarde

Marine Le Pen

Angela Merkel

Narendra Modi

José Mujica

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyokhina

Vladimir Putin

Rahul Gandhi

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Matteo Renzi

Edward Snowden

Tom Steyer

Malala Yousafzai

SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT

Read More From TIME

Related Stories

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