Macron Wants to Change France. But Will Voters Elect an Unknown?
"But for someone who comes to a private meeting and says, ‘This is good,’
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.
Pau told that The journey I made today brought to mind many memories,
Instead, Mr. Macron later described it as a "pilgrimage," some 20 journalists in tow,
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.
Yet, "he is, as he says, from the right and from the left and this is an invention
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.
The young man called out to the neatly attired former banker, saying he had "not a penny to pay for a suit like
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.
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
that at times they felt misled as Mr. Macron pursued his ambitions.
Mr. Macron has begun a new political movement, En Marche!, which means "Forward" or Onward," that draws from both sides of the political spectrum.