The coup d' etat that occurred on February 23, 1981 in Spain (better known as 23F), was a failed coup attempt, whose purpose was to restore the old Franco regime to Spain. This attempted coup was organized by a group of civil guards, under the power of Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero.
The causes that drove this coup were the following:
The strong economic crisis that complicated life in Spain; a country that at that time, was in full transition towards democracy, after spending forty years under the Franco regime.
The terrorist group ETA, the country remained plagued by submerging it in a continuous bath of blood through countless attacks.
The territorial organization of the nation, at that time, was somewhat confused.
The government was silent in the face of most of the calamities that occurred in the country.
The legalization of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE), considered a genocidal party by the majority of Spaniards.
All these causes and mainly the last one, was the straw that broke the camel's back and the patience of that group of soldiers, who began to plan the best strategy to restore the old system of government.
After the Spanish Communist Party was legalized in 1977. The army immediately showed its rejection of it, a few days after the decision was made, Admiral Pita Da Veiga y Sanz, who was then Minister of the Navy, presented his resignation. Immediately the superior council of the army sends a communiqué in which it issues its discontent for such decision; however it assures that it will abide by it
At that time, Adolfo Suárez ruled in Spain, who did not know how to keep the country afloat, leading it to a deep crisis, which worsened in 1980. The fragility of his government and especially in the foundations of his own party, originated his resignation as Prime Minister in January 81.
It was then that in the midst of such a tense environment, Suárez's replacement processes began to be prepared. After several processes, finally the Spanish monarch Juan Carlos I decides to elect Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, as a candidate for president of the government.
The atmosphere was already rarefied, when on February 19, 1981, the investiture session in the congress of deputies began. Here Calvo-Sotelo, exposes his government proposal. Not getting the required majority of votes to accredit the position. It is therefore necessary to go to a second round of voting.
The second round of voting was scheduled for February 23, and the coup was fully planned, it was 6 o'clock in the afternoon when the voting in the congress began, the guards were already ready and once 20 minutes had passed, The operation began, the group of soldiers led by Antonio Tejero, entered the congress heavily armed, Tejero climbed to the rostrum and with gun in hand he issued the famous phrase: "everyone quiet."
Many situations, still unclear, made this coup d'état not prosper. In the early morning of February 24, King Juan Carlo I issued a message of peace and tranquility to the citizens, supporting democracy and condemning this attempted coup. The leaders of the same were sentenced to prison. Thank God that during this event there were no victims to regret, only some holes in the walls, which can still be seen in the place.
