Trevor Manuel

This week’s third place is awarded to the Burmese government, following its decision to release some 9,000 prisoners including seven jailed dissidents from the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kui.  The National League for Democracy members released included Win Tin, a prominent journalist and activist who is now 79, having spent 19 years behind bars.  The move is a calculated, and limited, attempt to relieve domestic and international pressure a year after the violent suppression of protests by Buddhist monks, and following the junta's handling of the Cyclone Nargis.  As such, it is a measure of strength rather than weakness for a regime which has entrenched itself deeper after this year's devastation, bolstered by strategic competition between India and China.

In second place, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.  Faced with continuing disquiet about his leadership, Brown appears be looking to the US presidential race for clues as to how to rescue his beleaguered premiership.  Under pressure to give a rousing performance at the annual Labour Party Conference, Brown surprised delegates by having his wife introduce him to the platform.  Last month, Michelle Obama gave a similar address the Democratic Party convention ahead of her husband’s memorable oration.  However, while both Browns’ speeches received a positive reception, the Prime minister misses out on this week’s top spot.  Having persuaded his wife to step into the limelight, Brown then somewhat disingenuously went on to declare that he would not be serving his children up to the press.  After all, his children “aren't props; they're people”.

This week’s first place is awarded to South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, who -- intentionally or otherwise -- has demonstrated his vital importance to health of the South African economy.  Following the decision by Thabo Mbeki to step down as state President, Manual also offered his resignation.  Responding to the news, the South African rand and markets fell sharply, before recovering somewhat when he expressed an interest in staying on under the next administration. Manuel has been key to the economic and monetary policies under Mbeki’s administration and, with markets watching closely for any sign that the new leadership will shift towards a more populist stance, will be a central component in ensuring economic stability in the run-up to elections next April.