January 2011
Highs: Despite seeing his coalition lose seats in Iraq's March 7 parliamentary elections, Iraq's incumbent Prime Minister looks poised to retain his mandate following an extraordinary political stalemate: for some eight months after the polls, disputes impeded the formation of a new government. Maliki stayed in power and toughed out the deadlock and, following a deal some say was brokered more in Tehran's corridors of power than Baghdad's, was nominated on Nov. 11 once more to lead the government.
Lows: Maliki's opponents, not least Ayad Allawi, whose coalition of more secular and Sunni parties won more seats than Maliki's largely Shi'a bloc, are still fuming. Whatever Maliki's new government may look like, it'll be one marked by fragile alliances, political brinkmanship and a shadow of sectarian tensions.
—Ishaan Tharoor
View the full list for "Person of the Year 2010"
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2036683_2036767_2036800,00.html%20#ixzz1FqJiFDhm
