On the 45th anniversary of the failed coup by Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero, the Spanish public debate focuses on promises to declassify archival documents. While writer Javier Cercas and historians temper expectations about the existence of a single 'great secret,' the publication of the files aims to combat conspiracy theories. Contemporary society and the political class face the challenge of preserving the memory of these events amidst growing disinformation and polarization.

Declassification of military files

The Spanish government announces the publication of archival documents, which is intended to finally cut off conspiracy theories regarding support for the coup plotters.

Threat of disinformation

Experts warn that a lack of historical knowledge among the young facilitates the creation of fake news about the course of events from 1981.

The myth of the great secret

Writer Javier Cercas emphasizes that the most important facts are known, and declassification will not bring a revolution in historiography.

It has been 45 years since, on February 23, 1981, Civil Guard units led by Antonio Tejero stormed the Congress of Deputies. The current anniversary is special due to calls for the full publication of documents from that period. 23-F remains for Spaniards a trauma comparable to the assassination of Kennedy in the USA, serving as a foundational myth for modern democracy. Javier Cercas, author of a renowned book on the coup, warns, however, against excessive hopes for sensational discoveries. According to him, the files can only clarify details, not change the overall picture of the facts. Since 1975, after the death of dictator Francisco Franco, Spain underwent a turbulent process of political transformation. The attempted coup in 1981 was the last dramatic effort of the old military order to stop the country's democratization. Contemporary observers, such as Javier Rupérez or Cristina Almeida, recall hours of uncertainty when the fate of the state hung in the balance for nearly a day. Meanwhile, media report a troubling lack of knowledge among the youngest generations, who often confuse the figure of the coup leader with popular actors. Historians such as Roberto Muñoz emphasize that research into the coup has so far found no evidence of a broad conspiratorial 'civil plot' in business or political circles, which has fueled disinformation for decades. The process of declassifying documents is meant to help finally cut through these speculations. 17 godzin — the duration of the deputies' imprisonment in the parliament building In the cultural sphere, the anniversary has been dominated by the success of the miniseries 'Anatomía de un instante' – a Movistar Plus+ production that became a ratings leader after airing on the public broadcaster RTVE. The film reminded the public of an earlier coup attempt, known as Operation Galaxy. The contemporary political context means that 23-F also serves as a warning against modern threats to state stability, as raised by former ministers and commentators in the face of growing radicalization of the political scene. „No se esperen el gran secreto sobre el golpe de estado del 23F porque no existe.” (Don't expect the great secret about the 23-F coup d'état because it doesn't exist.) — Javier Cercas „Pensábamos que la democracia se venía abajo.” (We thought democracy was collapsing.) — Javier Rupérez The 23-F Coup vs. the Present Day: Main perpetrator: Army and Civil Guard → Disinformation and polarization; Societal attitude: Fear of a return to dictatorship → Erosion of historical memory; Role of media: Radio (transistors) as a source of truth → Social media as a source of bulos (fake news) Key Moments of the 23-F Coup Attempt: February 23, 18:23 — Attack on parliament; February 23, 21:00 — Tanks in Valencia; February 24, 01:15 — The King's Address; February 24, 12:00 — Tejero's Surrender

Mentioned People

  • Antonio Tejero — Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Guard, leader of the storming of parliament in 1981.
  • Javier Cercas — Contemporary Spanish writer, author of the book 'The Anatomy of a Moment' dedicated to the coup.
  • Jan Karol I — Former King of Spain, whose televised address halted the attempted coup d'état.