The declassification of thousands of documents concerning the failed 23-F coup coincided with the death of Antonio Tejero, a symbolic figure of the attack on the Spanish parliament. New materials, analyzed with the support of artificial intelligence, shed light on the deep involvement of military elites and political pressure on Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez. The publication has sparked a national debate in Spain over the foundations of the democratic transition and the role of the monarchy in preventing dictatorship.
Declassification of 23-F archives
Spain has released thousands of documents concerning the 1981 coup attempt, using artificial intelligence to aid in their analysis.
Death of Antonio Tejero
The last direct perpetrator of the coup died at the age of 93, coinciding with the publication of previously secret materials.
Surveillance of elites and the army
The files reveal the extensive knowledge of intelligence services about the conspiracy and the readiness of high-ranking officers to support the rebellion.
Media controversies
A dispute has erupted over alleged manipulation of source materials by public media, which presented old recordings as discoveries.
The declassification process of documents concerning 23-F marks a breakthrough in the study of Spain's recent history. State archives have released thousands of pages of reports, operational notes, and recordings that had been out of public reach for 45 years. Analysis of these materials reveals the scale of involvement of high-ranking officers in the conspiracy, including the readiness of General Coloma Gallegos to support the coup plotters in Catalonia. The documents indicate that Spanish intelligence closely monitored the mood in the barracks, noting numerous instances of "saber-rattling," suggesting that the network of conspirators was much broader than officially acknowledged in the post-1981 trials. These materials also shed new light on the figure of Adolfo Suárez. They show that pressure for his removal came not only from military circles but also from parts of the civilian elite, who saw him as an obstacle to the country's stabilization. Simultaneously, Spain bid farewell to Antonio Tejero, a former lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard, who died at the age of 93. Tejero, an iconic figure of the coup, never expressed remorse for the attack on parliament until the end of his life. His death coincided with the publication of the files, sparking a wave of comments about the symbolic closure of the transition era. The emotional dimension of these events was highlighted by an interview with his son, Ramón Tejero, who confessed that his father's betrayal of democratic ideals pushed him towards priesthood. Meanwhile, a dispute over the authenticity of some materials is ongoing in the media; journalists criticize the RTVE station for publishing old recordings as "alleged novelties," which intensifies the debate over journalistic ethics in the face of uncovering historical truth. The Spanish political transition (Transición) began after the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, and the failed coup of 1981 was a dramatic test for the stability of the new parliamentary monarchy.„Desclasifiquen, coño.” (Declassify them, for God's sake.) — Jordi ÉvoleRecent reports indicate that King Juan Carlos I undertook active diplomatic efforts and met with army leadership as late as December 1981 to prevent further attempts to seize power. The documents suggest that the monarchy played a risky game, balancing between loyalty to the army and the demands of democracy. The current political debate divides Spain: conservative media emphasize the king's role as the nation's savior, while the left demands a full explanation of the role of economic elites in financing the conspiracy. The declassification of files using digital tools allows every citizen to independently explore the dark pages of history, which is intended to serve as a final reckoning with the past.
Perspektywy mediów: Highlights the complicity of civilian and military elites in destabilizing the government and the need for a full accounting of the role of the monarchy and the Church. Focuses on the heroism of Juan Carlos I in defending democracy and warns against using history to attack contemporary state institutions.
Mentioned People
- Antonio Tejero — Former lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard, leader of the attack on the Spanish parliament in 1981, died at the age of 93.
- Adolfo Suárez — Prime Minister of Spain during the transition period, whose resignation was one of the conspirators' goals.
- Jan Karol I — King of Spain, whose television intervention in 1981 is considered crucial for stopping the coup.
- Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo — Prime Minister of Spain, who took power after Suárez's resignation and during whose swearing-in the attack occurred.
- Jordi Évole — Renowned Spanish journalist and columnist calling for full transparency of historical documents.