Breakthrough in 23-F Coup Investigation: Spain Declassifies Thousands of Documents

The decision to declassify documents concerning 23-F marks a turning point in Spanish historiography. The state archives have released thousands of pages of reports, operational notes, and recordings that had been inaccessible to the public for 45 years. Analysis of these materials, aided by modern artificial intelligence tools, reveals deep divisions within the army at the time and the scale of involvement of high-ranking officers in the conspiracy. Among the newly discovered facts is information about General Coloma Gallegos's readiness to support the coup plotters in Catalonia. The documents also show that intelligence closely monitored society's reactions and the mood in the barracks, noting numerous instances of "saber-rattling," suggesting the threat to democracy was much broader than previously thought. Parallel to the document declassification process, Spain bid farewell to Antonio Tejero, who died at the age of 93. The former lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard never expressed remorse for the attack on parliament until the end of his life. His death symbolizes the departure of the last direct perpetrator of the coup, which, according to many commentators, facilitates an objective reckoning with the past. However, press articles emphasize that the declassification of the files has sparked a new wave of political disputes. Conservative media focus on the role of King Juan Carlos I as a guarantor of stability, while left-wing editorial offices question the extent of knowledge among the elites at the time about the planned coup. Critical voices have also emerged regarding allegedly "false exclusive materials" broadcast by some television stations, sparking a heated debate about journalistic ethics and the manipulation of historical recordings. The Spanish political transformation after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 was a fragile process, exposed to numerous provocations from circles longing for authoritarianism.„Desclasifiquen, coño.” (Declassify them, damn it.) — Jordi ÉvoleThe published materials shed new light on the figure of Adolfo Suárez, the first democratic prime minister after the Franco era. The documents suggest that pressure for his removal from office came not only from military circles but also from part of the political elite, who considered him an obstacle to the country's stabilization. An interesting thread is also the attitude of the coup plotters' families; Antonio Tejero's son, Ramón, in an emotional interview confessed that he felt his father's betrayal as a personal tragedy, which led him to join the clergy. Analysis of the files indicates that the monarchy conducted an extremely risky diplomatic game, trying to calm tensions in the army even many months after the coup itself was suppressed, as confirmed by notes from the king's meetings with the command in December 1981.

Perspektywy mediów: Emphasizes the guilt of state structures and military elites, demanding full truth about the role of the monarchy and hidden masterminds of the conspiracy. Highlights the heroic role of the king and army in defending the constitution, warning against historical revisionism and instrumental use of the files.