Frankrike:
Charles Hittler is poised for a landslide victory in a French town election, despite the unusual circumstances. “My wife is in tears,” he says.
A small French town has become an unexpected global talking point as it prepares for local elections this weekend, according to the BBC.
In the town of Arcis-sur-Aube, incumbent Mayor Charles Hittler is seeking re-election.
One of his challengers is named Antoine Renault-Zielinski, and the unusual combination of names has sparked a frenzy on social media.
– It’s completely crazy,” Hittler told the BBC.
– This isn’t funny,” Renault-Zielinski said.
A Lifetime of Jokes
Charles Hittler says he has received comments about his name throughout his life.
During past election campaigns, residents of the town, which has a population of 2,785, have occasionally drawn Hitler mustaches on his campaign posters.
He previously felt the attention was manageable.
…but now, with the surge of attention on social media, he feels that “everything” is out of control.
– I’ve seen articles claiming ‘37 percent of the people of Arcis are Hitlerites!’ My wife is in tears,” he said.
Social media is rife with jokes drawing parallels between Adolf Hitler and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy – based on the candidates’ names.
– If people were talking about the town and our policies, that would be one thing. But all they’re interested in is our names,” Hittler said.
Family History
Hittler explained that his surname originates in the Alsace region, near the German border.
His father was sent to Germany as a forced laborer during the war. Afterward, the family considered changing their name.
– Everyone said we should. But it was shortly after the war, and it would have been expensive and complicated,” he said.
– Not everyone with this name is an idiot.
Today, few people in France share the Hittler surname. Several members of his family have chosen alternative solutions.
One of his sons pronounces the name differently to avoid attention. His grandchildren have taken their mother’s surnames.
The mayor, however, intends to stand his ground.
– Not everyone with this name is an idiot,” he said.
A Familiar Story
The situation echoes a similar case previously reported from Namibia, where Adolf Hitler Uunona was elected to local office in 2020.
He emphasized at the time that the name had no connection to Nazism, but stemmed from a period when German names were still common in the country following the colonial era.
