Juan Grabois

Juan Grabois (; born 23 May 1983) is an Argentine lawyer, professor, writer and social leader. He is the founder of the Movimiento de Trabajadores Excluidos ("Excluded Workers Movement"; MTE), the Confederation of Popular Economy Workers (CTEP, now known as UTEP), and the Patria Grande Front.

A devout Roman Catholic, Grabois is a former member of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. He was a precandidate for president of Argentina for the Unión por la Patria in the 2023 Argentine primary elections, being defeated by Sergio Massa of the Renewal Front by a large margin.

Early life and education

Grabois was born on 23 May 1983 in San Isidro, Buenos Aires. His parents are Roberto Grabois, a Peronist political leader, and Olga Isabel Gismondi, a pediatrician. He finished high school at the Colegio Godspell, and later enrolled at the National University of Quilmes, pursuing a Social Sciences and Humanities degree. In 2010, he completed a law degree from the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Law.

Career

Early social activism

In 2002, in the midst of the country's worst economic crisis in decades, 19-year old Grabois founded the Movimiento de Trabajadores Excluidos (MTE; "Excluded Workers' Movement"), seeking to group the waste pickers who suffered persecution from by Buenos Aires Police as their activities were outlawed, in order to organize collective action for their right to work. The MTE also incorporated other groups of informal sector workers, such as small agricultural workers, recuperated businesses workers, street vendors, among others.

In 2005, he participated in the promulgation of Law 1.854, or "Ley de Basura Cero" (""), guaranteeing the inclusion of scrap workers' rights into the legislation's text.

Leader of the Patria Grande Front

In August 2018, despite his previous opposition to her government and policies, Grabois publicly declared his support for former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as she faced corruption charges; Grabois stated his belief in her innocence and alleged the trial against her was being used to divert attention from the socio-economic crisis affecting the country during the government of President Mauricio Macri.

Later that year, on 29 October 2018, Grabois launched the Patria Grande Front at a rally held in Mar del Plata. The front is a confluence of several social and political organizations, including Vamos, Movimiento Popular La Dignidad, Tres Banderas, and Nueva Mayoría. According to Grabois, the front stands for the "critical reivindication of the popular cycle in Latin America and Argentina".

The front was formed with the intention of backing the candidacy of Fernández de Kirchner ahead of the 2019 general election. In July 2019, when Fernández de Kirchner declined running for president and instead endorsed Alberto Fernández while remaining in his ticket as candidate for vice-president, Patria Grande joined the newly formed Frente de Todos and supported Alberto Fernández's candidacy.

2023 presidential candidacy

In March 2023, ahead of the October 2023 Argentine presidential election, Grabois launched his presidential candidacy under the motto of "''Argentina Humana''" (). In Grabois' words, his intention is for a candidate to express the ideals of social justice and national sovereignty within the Frente de Todos primaries. He confirmed his candidacy following the rebranding of the Frente de Todos as the Union for the Homeland (UP). Grabois faced economy minister Sergio Massa in the August primaries to contend for the UP candidacy in the October general election. Grabois lost the primaries to Massa, amassing 21.45% of the UP votes and slightly less than 6% of the total cast votes. Massa later finished first in the first round of the october elections.

Personal life

Grabois is a devout Roman Catholic. His religious beliefs inform many of his political positions, such as his opposition to the legalization of abortion in Argentina. In February 2025, Grabois attempted to visit Pope Francis in the hospital, but was turned away.

Grabois has three children: two daughters and a son. His oldest child was born when he was 19 years old. He is presently married and lives with his family in Villa Adelina, Buenos Aires.

Publications

Grabois has authored or co-authored some of the following books and publications:
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Electoral history

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Grabois, Juan
Living people
1983 births
Argentine trade unionists
Argentine Roman Catholics
People from San Isidro, Buenos Aires
Catholic socialists
University of Buenos Aires alumni
21st-century Argentine politicians
21st-century Argentine lawyers