Source link : https://europ.info/2026/02/25/antonio-tejero-leader-of-spains-1981-coup-attempt-dies-at-93/
Antonio Tejero, the former lieutenant colonel who led Spain’s failed 1981 coup attempt, has died at the age of 93. Tejero is best known for orchestrating the dramatic seizure of the Spanish Congress of Deputies on February 23, 1981, an event that tested Spain’s young democracy in the years following the end of Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. His death marks the end of a contentious chapter in Spain’s modern political history.
Antonio Tejero’s Role in Spain’s 1981 Coup Attempt and Its Lasting Impact
On February 23, 1981, Antonio Tejero, a lieutenant colonel in the Civil Guard, orchestrated one of modern Spain’s most dramatic moments when he led an armed takeover of the Congress of Deputies in Madrid. The coup attempt, known as “23-F,” saw Tejero and a group of armed officers storm the parliamentary chamber, holding lawmakers hostage in a bid to overthrow the fledgling democratic government. Although Tejero declared the formation of a military junta, the coup quickly unraveled due to lack of support from the broader military hierarchy and the decisive intervention of King Juan Carlos I, who publicly condemned the rebellion and rallied democratic forces against it.
The aftermath reshaped Spain’s political landscape and remains a critical case study in the resilience of its democracy. The failure of the coup not only reinforced civilian control over the military but also accelerated democratic reforms during the transition from Francoist dictatorship to…
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Author : Charlotte Adams
Publish date : 2026-02-25 20:55:00
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