Spain’s government has announced plans to release classified documents related to the failed 1981 coup attempt, describing the move as a step toward settling a “historical debt” with citizens.
The coup, which occurred on February 23, 1981, came six years after the death of General Francisco Franco and was led by military officers seeking to restore privileges from his dictatorship.
The attempted seizure of power, carried out by rebellious civil guards under Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero Molina, saw lawmakers held at gunpoint in parliament for nearly 24 hours.
The uprising ended after it became clear that King Juan Carlos I would not support the plot. In a televised address, the king affirmed that the crown would not tolerate any attempt to interrupt Spain’s democratic process by force.
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General Alfonso Armada, once considered close to the king, was later sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the conspiracy, accused of attempting to lead a military-backed government to “correct” Spain’s democratic transition.
The Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, announced the decision on X, stating: “Memory cannot be locked away.
Tomorrow we will declassify the 23-F documents to repay a historic debt to the public. Democracies must understand their past to build a freer future.”
Government sources said the cabinet is expected to formally approve the declassification on Tuesday, with the archives made publicly available the following day on the official website of La Moncloa.
Historians note that the 1981 coup remains one of modern Spain’s most studied events, symbolising a critical moment in the country’s transition to democracy and marking the end of two centuries of military intervention in Spanish politics, described by writer Javier Cercas as “the founding myth of Spanish democracy.”