A Man Named Hitler Mussolini Wins Mayoral Seat in Peru

Sat Oct 10 2026 02:40:36 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Peru’s remote district elects a mayor whose first names echo two notorious dictators, sparking global media attention over a small local election.

In the high Andes of Peru, a 45‑year‑old candidate named Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores won the mayoral race in Queropalca by a margin of just 25 votes. His victory, riding on a 34% share of the vote in an election with fewer than 700 participants, attracted worldwide headlines simply because of his uncanny name. Social media and international press highlighted the oddity of a public office holder sharing titles with Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. The event has prompted discussions on the impact of names in politics and the allure of sensationalism in local elections.

A Man Named Hitler Mussolini Wins Mayoral Seat in Peru

A man named Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores has secured a narrow victory in Peru's local elections, exit polls show.

The candidate for the centre‑left Ahora Nación party was elected mayor of Queropalca, a remote district in the Peruvian Andes.

Some 229 residents voted for the 45‑year‑old, putting him ahead of the second‑place candidate from right‑wing Renovación Popular Perú by just 25 votes.

Despite being elected to represent fewer than 1,000 people, his forenames — those of two notorious fascist dictators — have drawn outsized international attention to the small corner of the country.

Data from Peru's elections office showed a little over 700 people had participated in the election, with Simeon securing around 34% of the vote.

His birth certificate lists him as born in the district in the central department of Huánuco, about 360 km (224 miles) from the capital, Lima.

Local outlets such as Peru21 called the candidacy a “striking event,” noting that other politicians with Nazi‑era names have also won local offices worldwide.

For instance, a town in Namibia elected a candidate named Adolf Hitler Uunona in 2020, while in 2018 Yúngar saw a mayor named Hitler Guesclin Alba Sánchez win with the slogan “I’m the good Hitler.”

The novelty of the name has dominated social media, raising questions about the role of names in politics and how a small electorate can capture global headlines.