Posted on 02/24/2011 5:48:19 PM PST by La Lydia
On 23 February 1981, exactly 30 years ago, Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero Molina led 200 agents of the Guardia Civil into the Spanish Parliament, taking all members of Parliament and the government ministers hostage. He declared a coup and claimed to install military reign with the support of the monarch, King Juan Carlos I. However, that same night, King Juan Carlos denounced the coup and clearly expressed his support for the Spanish Constitution and democracy, thus effectively ending the military coup.
In the aftermath of General Franco’s reign, King Juan Carlos I – his designated successor – installed democracy in Spain, which was previously under strict military rule. A combination of factors led to disgruntlement among the armed forces. The country faced many social and economic problems...Thus was the ground for revolution very fertile, and it was no wonder that, barely 5 years after King Juan Carlos came to the throne, some people began to plot to overthrow the government. The year leading up to the attempted coup, 1980, was a particularly difficult year for the democratic parties. Resignations of various ministers and dignitaries and endless reorganisations of the government seemed to indicate that the democracy was incapable of tackling the “real” problems faced by the people.
In February 1981, tensions seemed to culminate to a climax...At 6.21 pm, Lieutenant Colonel Tejero and his army of 200 Guardia Civil agents stormed the lower house of the Spanish parliament, shooting machine gun rounds, causing most of the MPs to dive under their seats. Three MPs did not hide. Two of them demanded the troops to disarm and stop the coup immediately. These were acting Minister of Defense a Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado and acting Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez. The third just seemed to look on the events undisturbed, this was the Communist leader Santiago Carrillo. General Gutiérrez Mellado and Prime Minister Suárez were assaulted after their attempts to break the coup, and had to cave in. Lieutenant Colonel Tejero had successfully taken hostage both the Parliament and the Government, thus creating a power vacuum.
Shortly after Tejero took over Parliament, another rebellious military leader, Captain General Jaime Milans del Bosch tried to put Valencia under military rule by putting tanks on the streets and declaring a state of emergency.... A third rebellious officer, General Torres Rojas, attempted to occupy strategic points in the capital, like the seat of radio and television operations so he could communicate about the success of the coup. Those forces only succeeded in occupying the broadcasting stations for less than two hours. The soldiers dispersed when the riot police showed up...
On the contrary, King Juan Carlos immediately installed a provisional government to ensure the continued democratic governance of Spain. He also personally contacted many high-ranking officers and formally informed them he had no intention of supporting the coup, while at the same time ensuring himself of their support to the Spanish Constitution, the democracy and – of course – the Monarchy itself.
Late that night, after 1 am on 24 February 1981, King Juan Carlos addressed the nation, in full military uniform of Captain General of the Armed Forces. He denounced the coup, defended the Constitution and thus effectively undermined the military authority of Captain General Milans del Bosch and Lieutenant Colonel Tejero.
The crown, symbol of the permanence and unity of the nation, cannot tolerate, in any form, actions or attitudes attempting to interrupt the democratic process.
Since the coup was not supported by the King, it soon fell apart. By 5 am on the morning of 22 February 1981, Captain General Milans del Bosch surrendered in Valencia. Lieutenant Colonel Tejero resisted until noon of that day, but eventually had to give in as well.
As a result, the Spanish monarchy had never been more popular and more trusted ... Now the King had shown his allegiance to his country and its constitution, he had not taken the opportunity to install a more dictatorial reign. With his actions, he stepped out of the shadow Franco had thrown upon him.
What a cesspool of left wing nuts Spain has turned into since then.
King Juan Carlos is a best a spineless idiot.
At worst, he is a willing participant in the destruction of a once deeply Christian country.
Really.
what I notice the most is the lack of many children when you walk the streets. In fact that’s what I notice the most in Germany, Spain and France.... very few children. Oh, they’re around and you see them occasionally but compare that to a city or municipality in the US and it’s really eye opening.
The difference in them is only in the MOB and the mobsters.. -------------------------
Democracy is the road to socialism. -Karl Marx
Democracy is indispensable to socialism. The goal of socialism is communism. -V.I. Lenin
The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism .-Karl Marx
Cada loco con su tema.
I suppose..
I was stationed at the Base Aérea de Torrejón de Ardoz from 1979- 1982 with my family also. I was kind of rooting for the coup! To me Spain has went downhill since Franco’s death in November 1975. I have went back twice in 1999 and 2000 and loved it but the socialist have ruined a good thing. Just like Obozo is ruining the United States, Amen.
Also, I have rad that they are conductiong “Truth and Reconciliation” committees now to weed out folks who acted against the commies many years ago.
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