Hittler (left) and Zielinski (right) are running against each other for mayor (Pictures: BBC)

Small town French elections don’t tend to make global headlines,but when a man called Hittler is not even the far right candidate,things are going to get messy.

In Arcis-Sur-Aube – population 2,785 – Charles Hittler is seeking re-election as mayor,but interest isn’t in his policies,it is because his opponent is Antoine Renault-Zielenski.

And in a twist of irony,it is Monsieur Zielinski who is the far right candidate,standing for the Patriot party.

Hittler is a little annoyed by the attention. He said: ‘If people were talking about the town and our policies,that would be one thing. But all they’re interested in is our names.’

Zielinksi,on the other hand,says he’s often asked if he’s related to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky,but that is not the case.

He said: ‘I can see why people find it amusing. Personally it doesn’t make me laugh,but it doesn’t bother me either.

‘It would be better if people were talking about Arcis for other reasons,but at least we’re on the map.’

Hittler said that his father considered changing his name after World War Two,but in the end the bureaucracy was too much and it would have been expensive.

Antoine Renault-Zielinski,28,said he’s often asked if he’s related to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Picture: BBC)

Current Mayor Hittler said the recent dialogue is ‘out of control’ (Picture: Hittler)

It doesn’t appear as though having the name Hittler has too much of a negative impact on politicians,despite the historic associations.

Last autumn,Adolf Hitler won a seat in his constituency in northern Namibia in a landslide election.

Hitler is a very popular politician in his small town with 5,000 residents,working on anti-apartheid efforts.

He previously said he wasn’t aware of his name’s origins,adding: ‘It does not mean I have Adolf Hitler’s character or resemble that of Adolf Hitler of Germany.’

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