Tejero Dies at 93 as Spain Declassifies 1981 Coup Files
Tejero Dies at 93 as Spain Declassifies 1981 Coup Files
Spain's former coup leader dies on the same day the government releases files on the 1981 attempt to overthrow democracy, shedding new light on a pivotal moment in Spanish history.
Spain is remembering Antonio Tejero Molina, who died at 93, on the same day the government released dozens of documents about the 1981 coup attempt. In February 1981, a group of officers led by Tejero burst into Parliament, holding MPs hostage for 18 hours as a bid to restore authoritarian rule after Franco. The revolt failed when King Juan Carlos refused to back the coup, preserving Spain's fledgling democracy.
The declassified files total 153 documents and include police and judicial reports, transcriptions of conversations between officials, and early reactions from foreign governments. While the release created great anticipation, the documents appear to offer few explosive revelations about the inner workings of the plot.
Tejero's death was noted by his lawyer as that of a man described as steadfast and faithful to Spain, even as conspiracy theories about the king's involvement persisted for years. The coincidence of his death with the file release underscored a turning point in how Spain remembers the coup and the democratic transition that followed.
