Charles Hittler, mayor of Arcis-sur-Aube, is running for re-election.Image: Facebook
Mar 19, 2026, 4:26 p.mMar 19, 2026, 4:26 p.m
The small village of Arcis-sur-Aube with 2,785 inhabitants, north of Troyes, has gained international fame in recent days. In the village’s mayoral election, two candidates face off whose names are reminiscent of well-known state leaders.
Center-right politician Charles Hittler, the village’s current mayor, is running for re-election. His challengers include Antoine Renault- Zielinski and Annie Soucat. The strange constellation of names inspired some social media users to make humorous posts about the election campaign between former German dictator Adolf Hitler and current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
One of the challengers: Antoine Renault- Zielinski from the right-wing party “Les Patriotes”.Image: Facebook
Mayor Hittler tells us that there have been occasional jokes about his name throughout his life BBC. “Sometimes people drew mustaches on my election posters. That was never a big problem. But now it’s getting out of control. I’ve seen articles online that say, ’37 percent of Arcis residents are Hitler supporters!’ My wife is completely distraught.”
His family comes from northern Alsace. His father, a shepherd, was brought to Germany during the Second World War as part of a forced labor program, Hittler tells the BBC. His parents were advised to change their name, but the effort and costs were too high. “Everyone said, ‘You have to change your name.’”
Charles Hittler himself would have kept the name because once you are known, the name no longer plays a big role. People would see the person behind the name. “It was for my friends “I just Monsieur Charles,” Hittler replies to the BBC when asked about his name.
Hittler’s challenger, Antoine Renault- Zielinski, got the second part of his name from his Polish mother. However, he told BFMTV that he was not related to the Ukrainian president.
The second round of voting on Sunday will decide which name Arcis-sur-Aube’s mayor has – Hittler, Renault- Zielinski or Soucat. (Nile)