A mayoral race in a small French town has drawn international attention due to the striking surnames of two leading candidates. Charles Hittler, the incumbent mayor of Arcis-sur-Aube, a commune in northern France is going against Antoine Renault-Zielinski in an upcoming election. With a population of around 2,800, voters in the northern French town will be heading to the polls this weekend for a run-off election. A third candidate, Annie Soucat, has also progressed to the final round of voting. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Mr Hittler secured the largest share in the first round, with 411 votes, equating to 38 per cent. Ms Soucat came second, with 350 votes (32 per cent). Finally, Mr Renault-Zielinski trailed on about 30 per cent, with 326 votes - setting up a closely watched second round. The race has attracted widespread attention online because of the resemblance between the candidates’ surnames and those of major historical and political figures. Mr Hittler’s name closely mirrors that of Nazi fascist dictator Adolf Hitler. Meanwhile, his opponent’s name has prompted comparisons to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. The coincidence has fuelled a wave of commentary and jokes across social media. Mr Hittler, 75, said he has endured remarks about his surname for most of his life. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Viktor Orban warns Christian roots are 'dying out' across the West after migration surge Belarus ‘giving migrants combat training before sending them to EU borders’ Major European airline axes flights amid surging jet fuel costs However, he said the reaction during this campaign has been far more intense than anything he has previously experienced. Speaking to the BBC, he said the situation had “gone completely crazy”, adding that the online attention had upset his family. He said: "I've seen online articles saying '37% of the people of Arcis are Hitlerites!' My wife is in tears." Despite the scrutiny, he has refused to change his name. He said he wanted to show that “not everyone with that name is an idiot”, insisting people should be judged on their actions rather than their surname. In the town itself, residents tend to avoid using his surname and instead refer to him simply as “Charles” or “Monsieur Charles”. Mr Renault-Zielinski, a 28-year-old customs officer, has also faced questions about his name. He has repeatedly clarified that he has no connection to President Zelensky. He explained that the spelling of his surname reflects his Polish heritage, distinguishing it from the Ukrainian president’s name. Speaking to the French news channel BFMTV, he acknowledged that some of the jokes surrounding the election were “a bit borderline”, but said they were largely taken in good humour. At the same time, he admitted he would prefer attention to focus on local issues rather than the candidates’ names. Both contenders have expressed frustration that policy debates have been overshadowed by the online reaction. They have argued that the election should centre on the future of Arcis-sur-Aube rather than a coincidence of surnames. Nevertheless, the unusual contest has propelled the small town into the global spotlight ahead of Sunday’s decisive vote. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter