Macron Wants to Change France. But Will Voters Elect an Unknown?<br />"But for someone who comes to a private meeting and says, ‘This is good,’<br />and then comes to a public meeting and doesn’t support you and doesn’t give a reason, that’s not worthy of a representative of the Republic." The idea of what Mr. Macron represents as a candidate — a novel amalgam of pro-business and pro-social welfare policies, with an optimistic outlook on France’s future — often seems to inspire more than Mr. Macron himself.<br />Pau told that The journey I made today brought to mind many memories,<br />Instead, Mr. Macron later described it as a "pilgrimage," some 20 journalists in tow,<br />that was in part intended to show his human side, to reflect his connection to a "terroir" — a definable place and personal history — that French voters could latch onto.<br />Yet, "he is, as he says, from the right and from the left and this is an invention<br />that our political family has not seen before." The visit to Bagnères-de-Bigorre — almost four years to the day since Mr. Macron’s grandmother died — was a chance for the candidate to further define himself.<br />The young man called out to the neatly attired former banker, saying he had "not a penny to pay for a suit like<br />that one." Mr. Macron responded: "The best way to pay for a suit is to work." "I’ve worked since the age of 16," the man shot back, in an exchange popularly interpreted as having put Mr. Macron in his place.<br />Those who have worked closely with Mr. Macron, both in government and in the private sector, are almost uniformly impressed by his grasp and dedication, but some said<br />that at times they felt misled as Mr. Macron pursued his ambitions.<br />Mr. Macron has begun a new political movement, En Marche!, which means "Forward" or Onward," that draws from both sides of the political spectrum.
