In a remote Andean district of Peru, voters have chosen a mayor with an extraordinary name: Hitler Mussolini Simeón Flores. The 45-year-old won the municipal election in Queropalca, a district of roughly 730 residents in the Huánuco department, by a narrow margin of 25 votes.
Flores, running for the centre-left Ahora Nación party, secured 229 votes, or 34.5% of the 663 valid ballots cast. His closest rival, Gaspar Benilde Osorio Zambrano of the Popular Renewal Peru party, trailed with 204 votes (30.8%). The election took place alongside regional and municipal polls across Peru, following the presidential victory of right-wing candidate Keiko Sofía Fujimori.
Flores also manages the Simeon Sac investment group in Pillco Marca, a town in the same department. His win has drawn attention not only because of his political affiliation but also because of the striking combination of names that evoke two of the 20th century's most infamous dictators.
A tradition of Hitlers in Peruvian politics
This is not the first time a Peruvian politician named Hitler has triumphed at the ballot box. In the nearby town of Yungar, Hitler Alba served as mayor from 2011 to 2014 under the centre-right We Are Peru party. In 2018, he ran again and won with 47.7% of the vote, despite a challenge from a candidate named Lennin Vladimir Rodriguez Valverde, who attempted to question the validity of Alba's candidacy.
Alba, who dubbed himself "the good Hitler," campaigned with slogans such as "Hitler returns" and "Hitler with the people." He later explained that his father had not been aware of the Nazi dictator's legacy when he chose the name.
Another notable figure was Hitler Saavedra, a surgeon and lawmaker who served in Peru's Congress as a member of We Are Peru from 2021 until his death in 2024 at the age of 46.
The phenomenon of Peruvian politicians bearing the name Hitler is a curious quirk of naming conventions in the country, where unusual names are not uncommon. It also reflects a broader Latin American tradition of adopting names from history, literature, and even popular culture, often without the negative connotations they carry elsewhere.
For European observers, the story may seem surreal, but it underscores the cultural and historical distances that shape political identities across the globe. While Europe grapples with the legacy of fascism and the rise of far-right movements, Peru's electoral politics offer a reminder that names alone do not determine political ideology.
Flores's victory in Queropalca is a local affair, but it resonates with broader questions about how we interpret political symbols and the weight we attach to historical names. As Peru's new municipal leaders take office, they will face the practical challenges of governing small, often impoverished communities in the Andes, where issues like infrastructure, education, and healthcare take precedence over the curiosities of nomenclature.
The election also highlights the fragmented nature of Peruvian politics, with numerous small parties and independent candidates vying for influence. In Queropalca, the vote was split among several contenders, reflecting a broader trend of political volatility in the country.
For now, the residents of Queropalca have made their choice, and Hitler Mussolini Simeón Flores will assume the mayoralty. Whether his administration will be remembered for its policies or its name remains to be seen.
