There are election posters that definitely get noticed... In Arcis-sur-Aube, a small town in Aube, the second-round duel has quickly crossed local borders. The reason? The phonetic similarity of the names of the two favorites to Adolf Hitler and Volodymyr Zelensky.
On social media, comments are pouring in, swinging between doubtful humor and fascination for this unlikely face-off. It's a buzz that contrasts with the reality on the ground: a classic municipal election, focused on local issues.
Vous ne trouverez pas de duel plus dystopique dimanche prochain en France #multiverse pic.twitter.com/0NKKYlsM4r
— Dr Jérôme BARRIERE, MD. (@barriere_dr) March 16, 2026
« They gave me little mustaches »
Always accustomed to jokes, Charles Hittler takes the situation with a sense of perspective. The mayor, leading in the first round with 37.81%, embraces his Alsatian surname despite the frequent references to World War II.
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In several media outlets, he shares how he grew up with these jokes, sometimes heavy, sometimes persistent. In the community, however, they simply call him “Mr. Charles”. It's a way to redirect the focus onto his achievements and his vision rather than just his name.
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Zielenski: Between Family Heritage and Confusion
In front of us is Antoine Renault-Zielenski, 28 years old, who proudly carries a double name full of family history. « Zielenski » comes from his Polish mother, a choice he fully embraces, yet it has often been a source of confusion since the start of the war in Ukraine.
Supported particularly by Florian Philippot, the candidate acknowledges that the situation is « comical », but not without a hint of seriousness. He too regularly has to address questions about a supposed connection to the Ukrainian president, which he consistently denies.
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Beyond the puns, the election is still open. A third candidate, who arrived between Hitler and Zelensky in the first round, could still reshuffle the deck. In the meantime, this unexpected duel is giving Arcis-sur-Aube a sudden spotlight, proving that sometimes, local politics can become a national phenomenon… for completely unexpected reasons.