A small French town has found itself in the social media glare after an unusual name clash in its local election.
Incumbent mayor Charles Hittler is contesting a runoff against Antoine Renault-Zielinski, a coincidence that has sent the internet into a frenzy.
Arcis-sur-Aube, a community of about 2,785 people roughly 160km southeast of Paris, heads to the polls in a municipal run-off this Sunday.
Hittler led a narrow first round and will be up against Renault-Zielinski and a third candidate, Annie Soucat.
What began as light-hearted online banter quickly snowballed into sustained attention, much to the discomfort of those involved.
Hittler says the coverage has focused on the novelty of the names rather than local issues, and he describes the personal toll it has taken on his family.
A retired laboratory chief, Hittler traces his surname to Alsace and to a father who was forced to work in Germany during the war.
His parents were advised to change the name in 1949, but the administrative hassle and cost put them off making the switch.
The Hittler name is now rare in France; some relatives have altered pronunciations or adopted other names.
He adds that members of his family, including a daughter and daughter-in-law, are also involved in municipal politics in other towns.
Renault-Zielinski, 28, is a customs officer whose Polish maternal surname has drawn comparisons to Ukraine’s president.
He says he is not related to Volodymyr Zelensky and notes the different spelling, and while he understands the amusement, he would prefer attention to focus on Arcis itself.
The contest has a political edge: Renault-Zielinski is associated with the Patriot movement, and the broader region has shown strong support for the far-right National Rally in national contests.
That context has added another layer to the story beyond the name coincidence.
Arcis-sur-Aube’s name also has historical echoes: the town gave its name to a settlement near Odesa after an 1814 battle involving Napoleon, and it was once the birthplace of revolutionary figure Georges Danton.
For both candidates, the hope is that the episode will ultimately draw attention to local policies rather than internet jokes.
Whatever the outcome on Sunday, residents say they would like the debate to return to municipal concerns rather than viral name-based publicity.
