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Martin Schulz, the former president of the European Parliament, has now emerged as the Chancellor’s main rival and is experiencing a huge surge in popularity.

Angela Merkel’s CDU party is now looking over its shoulders after Mr Schulz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) rose five points in just one week.

The CDU is still ahead at 32.5 per cent, with the SPD fast on their heels at 26 per cent - a margin that continues to shrink every day.