Spain Opens Long‑Hidden Documents on 1981 Coup Attempt

In Spain, officials have finally made public a set of 153 documents that were kept secret for almost half a century. These files relate to the day in February 1981 when armed soldiers stormed the national parliament with guns, trying to end democracy and restore a dictatorship that had ended six years earlier with the death of Francisco Franco. The soldiers, led by a man named Antonio Tejero, entered the chamber while new lawmakers were being sworn in. They shouted threats and held MPs at gunpoint, hoping the army would side with them. The plan stopped short when King Juan Carlos stepped forward and sent a televised message to the nation. He called on the armed forces to stay in their barracks and supported the legitimate government, which ended the coup before it could succeed. For years after the event, rumors circulated that the king might have known about the plot or even helped it. Some people also suggested the whole thing was a staged test by politicians to prove democracy could survive. The new release of documents is meant to clear up these doubts and show the real facts behind what happened.The papers include police reports, court transcripts, recordings of conversations between officials, and notes from foreign governments reacting to the crisis. They give a detailed look at how the military and government responded in real time, offering historians and citizens alike a clearer view of that tense hour. The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, said keeping these records locked away was a “historical anomaly. ” By opening them now, they hope to prevent misinformation from spreading and to reinforce trust in the country’s democratic institutions. The decision came on the same day that Antonio Tejero died at 93. His family posted a message on social media asking for peace that had been denied him in life. For many Spaniards, the 1981 coup is a pivotal moment that shows how fragile democracy can be and how crucial leadership and public support are for its survival. The documents now provide a more complete picture, allowing people to learn from the past and build a stronger future.