Jean-François Lanneluc, head of communications at the Strasbourg town hall, told French media: “It’s normal that Strasbourg, a European capital, plays an important role in encouraging people to register to vote. The aim of the slogan is to remind voters of the importance of a strong Europe in the face of Trump’s America, which is hostile to the European project.”

“Europe is a model which provides an alternative to isolationist tendencies, which Mr Trump embodies. When you look at the way he treats Europe… We take full responsibility for the poster’s message. We knew the risks, we knew it could spark a debate.”

Scores of French mayors have since asked for permission to reproduce the poster campaign, a move Mr Lanneluc has welcomed. Framed as a battle between centrist, pro-EU parties and nationalist far-right groups that want to stop immigration and restore national sovereignty, next May’s parliamentary election is expected to shake up the bloc’s political landscape.