![Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel zeigt am Dienstag, 1. September 2009, nach ihrer Rede auf einer Wahlkampfveranstaltung der CDU in Neumuenster, Schleswig-Holstein, die Daumen nach oben. Am 27. September finden zeitgleich die Bundestagswahl und die Landtagswahl im noerdlichsten Bundesland statt. (AP Photo/Heribert Proepper) --- Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel shows the thumbs up after her speech at an election campaign of the Christian Democratic Party CDU, in Neumuenster, northern Germany, on T](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5d014f5e2400005117878fff.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale)
Angela Merkel has topped the Forbes 'World's Most Powerful Women' list for the fifth year in a row, pipping Hilary Clinton, Taylor Swift and Oprah Winfrey to the top position.
Her presence on the world stage has proven the German Chancellor a formidable political opponent, having led high-level talks on the deaths of thousands of Mediterranean migrants, Russian sanctions and the Eurozone crisis.
She has clinched the sought-after top spot for the ninth time in just 12 years.
But it's hardly surprising when you look at her record. The no-nonsense Chancellor, who holds a PhD in Chemistry, has proven throughout her ten-year tenure to be an accomplished orator and highly skilled political shade-thrower.
Here's five times Ms Merkel left the world in no doubt that the she was The Boss.