This week’s third place goes to the EU, which has unwittingly helped the leaders of Latin America’s MERCOSUR countries to present a unified front at their recent summit in Argentina. The EU’s recently approved ‘Return Directive’ tightens restrictions on non-EU residents and also makes it possible for illegal immigrants to be held for up to 18 months prior to deportation. Although Mercosur remains plagued by trade disputes, the Return Directive has provided a rare opportunity for its leaders to stand together in 'defending' their citizens' interests against ‘xenophobic’ EU immigration policy.

In second place, Polish President Lech Kachzynski, who has declared that ratifying the Lisbon Treaty would be "pointless for the moment" after the Irish 'No' vote last month. His stand has twarted his domestic political opponents as well as EU elites wanting to isolate the Irish electorate by pressing on with ratification. While he has stopped short of declaring the treaty 'dead', the move will have done little for his relations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. France took over the presidency of the EU this week and Sarkozy used the opportunity to declare that his top priority would be to press ahead with the ratification process.

In first place, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, whose already high popularity will be boosted further by this week’s bloodless rescue of 15 high profile FARC hostages, including former presidential candidate, Ingrid Betancourt. Intelligence agents posed as members of a non-governmental organisation that claimed they would fly the hostages to a camp to meet the new FARC leader. Once on board, they were flown to freedom. Coming shortly after the death of FARC leader Manuel Marulanda, the rescue damages the FARC severely. It has also increased the likelihood of the FARC agreeing to talks on government terms, and makes Uribe more likely to be re-elected for a third term.

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