The son of a psychiatrist, Ramadier graduated in law from the University of Toulouse and started his profession as a lawyer in Paris.

He became the mayor of Decazeville in 1919 and served as the first Prime Minister of the Fourth Republic in 1947.

[1] On 10 July 1940, he voted against the granting of the full powers to Marshal Philippe Pétain, who installed the Vichy regime the next day.

Ramadier took part in the Resistance and used the nom de guerre Violette.

In the government of Charles de Gaulle (1944–1945), he was Minister for Provisions and earned a reputation as a hardworking, pragmatic and conciliatory politician.