The Online Poll

The Winner

Nelson Mandela is TIME Europe's Online hero for 2005 with more than 1 in 3 votes cast (35%) going to the former ANC leader and the first post-apartheid president of South Africa.

Those who originally nominated Mandela include Mateo Bueno of Rome, Italy, who said he possessed: “Integrity... the right fight... stand up for the weak and oppressed.” Quiviger Danielle of Cherbourg, France, described him as a “Symbol of Peace and Freedom,” while Timothy James Crellin of Kidderminster, England: said: “He is a statesman who has done his best for all peoples, and does not put on that spin doctor talk that all politicians have as part of their CV.”

The runner-up was beleaugered Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. TIMEeurope.com visitor Eliyahu Shiffman was one of those who put forward Sharon as “A brave man who is willing to publicly alter his ideology ... only a very few [politicians] have the leadership and creativity to get in front of their people with a new idea, say 'follow me,' and make it happen."

From TIME's Archive