At 18:21 in 23 February 1981, the different coup plots that had been fomenting since the beginning of the transition to democracy met in a coordinated action. At 18:30, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio Tejerohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Tejero, 200 Guardia Civiles armed with submachine guns interrupted the Congress of Deputies. A cameraman recorded almost half an hour of the event, providing the world with an audiovisual record of the attempt. From the rostrum, Tejero ordered everyone to be silent and wait for a competent, military authority who never came.
General Gutiérrez Mellado, acting Minister of Defence, and Adolfo Suárez ordered the insurgents to disarm. The guardia civil agents assaulted them, following the attack with numerous rounds from a submachine gun round into the ceiling. With the taking of the parliament and the dragooning of the executive and legislative powers, they sought to create a power vacuum in which to establish a new political power.
King Juan-Carlos refused to negotiate with the coup leaders and ordered the army to return to its barracks... At about 3:00 am King appeared on TV saying that the coup has failed.
WI the Tejero coup was succesful? how is this affecting Spain and History? Any thoughts?
General Gutiérrez Mellado, acting Minister of Defence, and Adolfo Suárez ordered the insurgents to disarm. The guardia civil agents assaulted them, following the attack with numerous rounds from a submachine gun round into the ceiling. With the taking of the parliament and the dragooning of the executive and legislative powers, they sought to create a power vacuum in which to establish a new political power.
King Juan-Carlos refused to negotiate with the coup leaders and ordered the army to return to its barracks... At about 3:00 am King appeared on TV saying that the coup has failed.
WI the Tejero coup was succesful? how is this affecting Spain and History? Any thoughts?