Meral Akşener

While Akşener may not have a shelf full of trophies, her impact on Turkish politics is undeniable. She broke barriers as one of the few women to lead a major political party and run for president. Her decision to found the Good Party in 2017 reshaped the opposition landscape, giving nationalist voters a new home. She has been a vocal critic of authoritarianism, earning international respect as a democratic force.