Juan Grabois
Juan Grabois is an Argentine lawyer, professor, writer and social leader. He is the founder of the Movimiento de Trabajadores Excluidos, the Confederation of Popular Economy Workers, and the Patria Grande Front. Since 2025 he has sat in the lower house of the National Congress as a deputy for Buenos Aires Province.
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. In August 2025, Grabois confirmed his candidacy for the Chamber of Deputies for Unión por la Patria list for Buenos Aires Province alongside Jorge Taiana.
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. After attenting ILSE for most of his secondary education, 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, 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. 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 the following books and publications:- .
Controversies
Antisemitism allegations
In November 2023, Grabois faced significant backlash after posting on social media a message comparing the situation in the Gaza Strip to the Holocaust, stating: "What is happening in Gaza is genocide. There are none so deaf as those who will not hear." The post was condemned by Argentina’s Jewish community, including the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas, which described the comparison as “inappropriate and deeply offensive,” arguing that it trivialized the Holocaust. Grabois later clarified that his intention was not to deny or minimize the Holocaust but to draw attention to civilian casualties in Gaza, reaffirming his respect for Jewish history and victims of Nazism.Criticism over political alliances and ideological inconsistencies
Grabois has been accused by both left-wing and right-wing sectors of opportunism due to his shifting political alliances. Initially critical of Kirchnerism during the presidencies of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner, he later became one of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s most vocal supporters, joining the Frente de Todos coalition in 2019. Critics argue this shift reflects strategic pragmatism rather than ideological coherence. Additionally, his close relationship with Pope Francis—while maintaining ties to Marxist-inspired social movements—has drawn skepticism from conservative Catholic groups and secular leftist factions alike.Legal disputes and confrontations with security forces
Grabois and organizations linked to him, particularly the Movimiento de Trabajadores Excluidos, have been involved in multiple legal conflicts related to roadblocks and public protests. In 2021, he was charged with “coercion” and “public intimidation” following a demonstration that blocked access to the Buenos Aires provincial government headquarters. Although charges were eventually dropped, opponents cite these incidents as evidence of his willingness to use disruptive tactics that infringe on public order. His rhetoric—such as describing violence as “a tool of survival” in marginalized communities—has further fueled controversy, with detractors warning it legitimizes unlawful actions.Vatican incident and perceived overreach
In February 2025, Grabois attempted to visit Pope Francis while the pontiff was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. According to Italian media reports, Grabois tried to enter the Pope’s private room without authorization, prompting hospital security to intervene and remove him from the premises. The incident sparked criticism in Argentina and abroad, with commentators questioning his judgment and accusing him of exploiting his relationship with the Pope for political visibility. Grabois denied any wrongdoing, stating he had been invited by Vatican officials and that the situation was a misunderstanding.Corruption allegations and misuse of public funds
In 2022, Argentine federal prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged irregularities involving public subsidies granted to organizations linked to Grabois, particularly the Unión de Trabajadores de la Economía Popular and its affiliated cooperatives. The probe focused on whether state funds allocated for social programs—such as food distribution and housing initiatives—were diverted to finance political activities or personal expenses. Although Grabois denied any personal involvement, internal documents revealed that several cooperatives under UTEP’s umbrella failed to provide adequate documentation for expenditures exceeding ARS 800 million.In 2024, a former UTEP administrator filed a whistleblower complaint alleging that Grabois and other leaders used state-funded vehicles and office infrastructure for campaign purposes during the 2023 presidential primaries. The Office of the General Auditor of the Nation confirmed “serious accounting discrepancies” in at least three cooperatives tied to the Patria Grande Front.