The blanket on the shoulder, the “ramoneta”, the megaphone: in a short time, José Luis Ramón became one of the most recognizable figures of the Mendocine politics. At 55 years old and a message that attracted a significant part of the electorate, the national deputy can consolidate on Sunday as a third force, beating the FIT’s left. He assures you he’ll be the next governor. As a railroad father, Ramon had various jobs. He served as a waiter, ice cream salesman and ordinance, among other trades. He then studied law at the University of Mendoza, which is a private institution. In 1994 he was one of the founders of Protectora, a consumer advocacy association. With that entity he entered the lareas of public debate and decided to stand for election. In the absence of structure, he chose to ally himself – together with the current provincial deputy of Mendoza Mario Vadillo – with the local Intransigent Party. The result was surprising. In the 2017 elections, PI-Protectora won 17.21% of the vote, far surpassing other parties that had been on the electoral stage for decades. Over time, Ramon and his people managed to make Protectora a political force of her own.
“It has been 25 years since civil society that we decided to defend workers/consumers. We recently decided to take another step towards the rights we needed, being a mandateless political force from the Nation, from mendocinos to mendocinos” #DebateporElSiete pic.twitter.com/umYk7ASs8Z — Jose Luis Ramon (@JoseLuisRamonOk)
September 26, 2019
The truth is that their campaigns mark a style. Ramon usually climbs, megaphone in hand, on the “ramoneta”, a vehicle with which he travels through different neighborhoods and contacts people. Its popularity increased in the face of the rise of tariffs: the “march of the blankets” – a mobilization against the gas rises – remained in the memory of many voters, who after that move recognize it as an ally of consumers.
But it has also provoked controversy. He was heavily criticized during the debate by the Voluntary Interruption of Pregnancy Act, because – although at some point a favorable stance was expected – he eventually voted against it and reported it through a video that gave much to talk about.
Histrionic and discontracting, neighborhood and enter, Ramon continually appeals to “mendocinism” to differentiate himself from other spaces. It is presented as a provincial option, with no commitments to leaders of Buenos Aires.
“Right and left are things of the past” (José Luis Ramón).
When asked if it is right or left, he often answers that these “are things of the past”, although he explicitly defends the free market. It targets citizens as consumers, while emphasizing concepts such as “family” and “love.” A strategy that – for now – continues to be deiccated to him.
José Luis Ramón.
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José Luis Ramón
Elections
mendoza
Protective
Governor
