Spain Opens Old Files About 1981 Coup

Spain is set to release documents about a failed coup in 1981 that almost toppled its young democracy. The move follows many people asking for more information. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the files will be declassified. He called it a way to pay back a historical debt and let citizens see their past. The documents may show how former King Juan Carlos I reacted during the crisis. They could also reveal what intelligence agencies did and why the plan failed.The coup began when Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero entered Spain’s parliament with armed officers. They fired shots, held lawmakers hostage for 17 hours, and tried to bring back a dictatorship. The attempt collapsed when the king spoke on live television. He backed the elected government and the constitution, stopping the plot. Some records of the event are missing. Releasing these files is expected to give new insights and help Spain remember how it defended democracy.