In brief
In the remote Andes town of Queropalca, 45‑year‑old candidate Hitler Mussolini Simeon Flores won the mayoral race by a narrow margin. He represents the centre‑left Ahora Nation party and secured 34% of a turnout of just over 700 voters. The unusual coincidence of his name, identical to that of Nazi and fascist leaders, attracted international media coverage. Local news outlets noted similar odd‑name cases in other countries, but emphasized the village’s ordinary political concerns. The election highlights the continued vibrancy of local democracy in Peru.
Man named Hitler Mussolini elected mayor 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 Nation 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, the fact that his forenames are those of two notorious fascist dictators has drawn outsized international attention to the small corner of the country.
Peru's elections office shows a little over 700 people participated, with Simeon securing around 34% of the vote.
He was born in the district in the central department of Huánuco, about 360km (224 miles) from the capital, Lima.
The coincidence of his name is noted by local media, and the story is reminiscent of previous cases in Peru, Namibia and elsewhere where candidates with controversial names gained attention.
