Antonio Tejero, Leader of Spain's Failed 1981 Coup, Dies at 93

Former Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero Passes Away

Antonio Tejero Molina, the former Lieutenant Colonel of the Spanish Civil Guard and the most prominent figure in Spain's failed 1981 coup attempt, known as 23-F, has died at the age of 93. Tejero passed away on February 25, 2026, at his home in Alzira, Valencia. His death was confirmed by his family's lawyer and notably coincided with the Spanish government's declassification of documents pertaining to the 1981 coup.

The 23-F Coup Attempt

On February 23, 1981, Tejero led approximately 200 armed Civil Guards in a dramatic storming of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Spanish Parliament, in Madrid. The audacious act, which interrupted a vote to swear in a new prime minister, saw Tejero fire shots into the ceiling and order parliamentarians to the floor, holding them hostage for an estimated 18 to 22 hours. The coup aimed to halt Spain's nascent democracy and revert the country to a more authoritarian, Francoist regime, following the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975.

The attempt ultimately failed, largely due to the decisive intervention of King Juan Carlos I, who publicly denounced the coup on national television, calling for the preservation of Spain's constitutional order. This royal address significantly undermined the coup plotters' efforts, leading to their eventual surrender.

Imprisonment and Later Life

Following the failed coup, Antonio Tejero was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment for military rebellion. He was also expelled from the Civil Guard. Tejero served approximately 15 years of his sentence, primarily in military prison, before being released on parole in December 1996.

Prior to the 23-F incident, Tejero had been involved in another failed coup attempt in 1978, known as Operation Galaxia, for which he also served a brief prison term. After his release in 1996, he largely maintained a low public profile, residing in areas such as Torre del Mar, Málaga, and Madrid. He reportedly took up painting during his incarceration and continued this pursuit in retirement. Tejero remained a staunch Francoist throughout his life, making a notable public appearance in 2019 to protest the exhumation of Francisco Franco's remains.