Declassification of Documents on Spanish Coup Attempt Divides Political Class and Historians

Analysis of the latest press publications indicates deep fractures in the historical assessment of the events of February 23, 1981, known as 23-F. The declassification of some documents has become a catalyst for discussion about the role of retired King Juan Carlos I. Right-wing media, such as "ABC" and "La Razón," strongly emphasize the narrative of the monarch as the sole guarantor of stability, whose firm stance stopped the tanks of General Milans del Bosch. Meanwhile, liberal and left-wing circles, represented by outlets like "El País," point to "empty secrets" – documents that, despite being declassified, still do not answer questions about the royal household's actual intentions in the first hours of the rebellion. At the same time, the political process aimed at permanently opening archives from the Franco era and the transition has stalled. The People's Party (PP), together with the Catalan party Junts, has blocked government and Basque proposals to amend the archaic state secrets law. This situation prevents access to the most sensitive military and intelligence archives. The 23-F coup attempt is considered a critical moment in Spain's political transformation, which paradoxically consolidated the young democratic system and strengthened the authority of the crown for nearly three decades. Another significant thread is the symbolic farewell to the era of the coup plotters – the funeral of Antonio Tejero took place in Madrid, provoking a wave of memories from witnesses of those events. In the international press, including the "Frankfurter Allgemeine," it was noted that the Spanish right wing treats the current moment as the full historical rehabilitation of Juan Carlos I, which could pave the way for his return from exile in the United Arab Emirates. However, experts like Roberto Muñoz Bolaños warn that the full truth about the structures supporting the coup will have to wait at least until 2031, when further secrecy clauses expire. „Lo más importante del golpe no se sabrá hasta 2031” (The most important aspects of the coup will not be known until 2031) — Roberto Muñoz Bolaños From a regional perspective, for instance in Seville, the new documents confirm the loyalty of local command structures to the government, contradicting theories of widespread army involvement in the conspiracy. Nevertheless, a sense of dissatisfaction dominates the public sphere, and the term "exilio virtual" (virtual exile) of King Juan Carlos I has become a symbol of an unfinished reckoning with the past.