18.03.2026 23:05
The town of Arcis-sur-Aube, located in northeastern France and with a population of less than 3,000, has become a topic of discussion on social media due to the names of the candidates running in the municipal elections. The current mayor, Charles Hittler, is running for re-election, and one of his opponents has the surname Zielinski, which has attracted international attention.
The municipal elections held in a small town in France made international headlines due to the candidates' surnames. The name of the current mayor, Charles Hittler, closely resembles that of Adolf Hitler, and the name of one of his opponents, Antoine Renault-Zielinski, attracted significant attention.
Antoine Renault-Zielinski This situation led to comments about Adolf Hitler and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky competing in the election.
"THINGS GOT OUT OF CONTROL" The current mayor, Charles Hittler, described the attention as "out of control," stating that he has faced jokes about his surname throughout his life but had never encountered such a level of interest before.
His opponent, Renault-Zielinski, expressed surprise at how much the issue had escalated, noting that his surname bears a coincidental resemblance.
Running for re-election, Charles Hittler told the BBC that he was not particularly pleased with the attention. He expressed discomfort that the discussions were focused solely on names rather than the town's issues.
Hittler mentioned that his wife was negatively affected by the news spreading on social media, stating that some posts led to misunderstandings by being taken out of context.
FAMILY BACKGROUND DRAWS ATTENTION Retired laboratory director Hittler noted that his surname is rooted in the Alsace region, which lies on the France-Germany border. He stated that his father was forced to work by Nazi Germany during World War II, adding that this background adds a different dimension to the ongoing discussions.
Charles Hittler HE WILL NOT CHANGE HIS SURNAME Hittler, who stated that he has occasionally faced jokes about his surname throughout his life, said that the current discussions are much more advanced than his previous experiences.
He expressed that he does not intend to change his surname, stating that it is part of his family history and reflects the historical cultural interaction in the region.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS ANNOUNCED In the first round of the election, the current mayor, Charles Hittler, received 37.81% of the votes, placing him in first place. Antoine Renault-Zielinski came in third with 29.99% of the votes.