A few months ago, Joaquim Forn was a politician who was finished. Or to put it mildly, written off. A pitiful election campaign of the then CiU (Convergence and Union) in the city of Barcelona in 2015 and the fabrication of fake news on behalf of Spain's Interior Ministry during those weeks ousted Xavier Trias from the mayor's office, as it was published he held an account in Switzerland. Afterwards, we learned that everything was part of the Operation Catalonia, but by the time that was crystal clear, Trias was already out of power. And with him, his first deputy mayor, Joaquim Forn, without argument the most worthy man that surrounded him; but, in general, not regarded in high esteem by journalists, who considered him, with reason, not very mediagenic. Not very glamorous. That in four years there weren't any problems in the municipal structure, with the civil servants and different groups of an imposing machine such as Barcelona's City Council not creating any media seduction; and now that all the past and future crises have occurred at city hall, the situation could be different. But the past never returns. Or maybe it does.
What is true is that Forn returned to his thankless role and took refuge in the position that he has occupied most in politics: spokesman of the municipal opposition since 2007 and town councilor since 1999. Some say that it would not have been strange if he had shortly given up politics and tried the private sector. But on 13th July, a call from Carles Puigdemont almost at midnight inviting him to the palace of the Catalan government changed the course of his biography: the president offered him the role of Interior minister. A key position with all eyes on the referendum of 1st October. It is not known exactly what came first: the acceptance by Forn or the immediate criticism from the opposition and print media from Madrid (although not only). Today it feels shameful re-reading those reports and editorials. But it is already known that in war (political), there is not a moment for rest and Forn did not have it.
On the day of the attack, last 17th August, he received the news at a little distance from where it was happening. Almost from Thursday to Monday, he did not leave the ministry. And when he did it was to head to the palace of the Catalan government or go home. Except for a couple of hours on Sunday during which he went to the Barça-Betis match, in an attempt to convey calmness to the citizens as Interior minister, accompanied by the head of the Mossos, Josep Lluís Trapero. And to be present for the minute's silence from the Nou Camp crowd.
Since Thursday, everything has changed. The Mossos have climbed, probably, to their highest position of affection and recognition from the Catalan society; the 'major' Trapero is a recognised and admired police chief, with a gloss of great professionalism and an envied communicator; and Forn is the effective politician who has done what he knows best, that is nothing other than his responsibility and something that he carries out with absolute normality. All those who viciously criticised his appointment remain silent today; but they still invent fake news and look for other ways to ignore his role. Is it possible to survive in the middle of all this? Yes. And make a comeback from nothing, too.