Angela Merkel could be facing a fight to hold on to power in German elections later this year, amid signs of a dramatic swing of support towards her rival, Martin Schulz.

Opinion polls suggest the former head of the European parliament and outspoken Brexit critic has transformed the German political scene since he emerged as Mrs Merkel’s main challenger a week ago.

Support for his Social Democratic Party (SPD) has risen five points in a single week according to the latest poll for Bild newspaper, putting it within touching distance of Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Placards at Mr Schulz’s first press conference as party leader-designate this weekend depicted him in the red, white and blue tones of Barack Obama’s iconic “Hope” poster.

But instead of hope, the slogan “MEGA” was written accross it — shorthand for Make Europe Great Again.

On social media, some of Mr Schulz’s supproters have started referring to their candidate as “The Schulz”, in reference to President Trump’s nickname “The Donald”.