Antoine Antoniol/Bloomberg

Christine Lagarde

Economic Affairs Minister
France

The former managing partner of Chicago-based law firm Baker & McKenzie, France's charismatic Finance Minister emerged as one of Europe's most influential policymakers during the economic crisis, leveraging her U.S. connections to keep in close touch with top officials in Washington. At home in France, she has overseen a multibillion-dollar bank bailout and recently announced plans to slap a 50% tax on bankers' bonuses over $40,000.

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