“Hamas popularity among the populace who are actually living now in shelters, in tents and makeshift, you know, communities is declining,” one pollster told NBC News.

“The Hungarian government never wastes an opportunity to shame us,” said MEP Nathalie Loiseau.

The US president said allied troops had "stayed a little back" during the war in Afghanistan.

There was no malicious intent in removing the flags, said a State Department spokesperson, who added that the flags had been replaced.

The chancellor is pushing market-oriented policies he believes will boost competitiveness at home and across the EU.