Merkel, in a pillar-box red jacket, is positioned with her hands clasped behind a podium in the political leaders zone that also contains the likes of former British prime minister Tony Blair and US President George W. Bush.

She is only the fourth female leader to be unveiled in the section after former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, ex-British premier Margaret Thatcher and the late Benazir Bhutto, who governed Pakistan twice.

'We are more than pleased to be launching German Chancellor Angela Merkel,' said Mr Ben Lovett, from Madame Tussauds.

'Forbes magazine has voted her as the most powerful woman in the world, so it makes sense for her figure to have a prominent place in the political leaders zone of our attraction.'

Merkel beats the current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to a place at the museum. Bosses have said they would only put Brown in wax when he was directly elected by the people.

Brown took over from Blair last June as leader of the Labour Party.

In the British political system, a general election does not have to be called if the governing party changes leader mid-term. -- AFP