With all these new revolutions going on in the world right now you would almost forget but Spain is also commemorating the 30th anniversary of that highly bizarre attempted coup d’état by member of the Guardia Civil Antonio Tejero, a real test of the young and still unstable democracy.
On this day, exactly 30 days ago, Tejero and a few others had enough of the economic problems and the political instability the country was experiencing at that moment and decided that a return to Franco’s time was just what Spain needed. During a vote he entered the lower house and history books, took hostage of everybody present by means of warning shots and started to wait for reinforcements. During the following 18 hours drafted military were dizzy with confusion, people started to hide books and other literature that might seem offensive to a possible new regime, a Guardia Civil captain in Valencia ordered tanks to occupy the streets to show solidarity with Tejero, the King declared that democracy needed to prevail, reinforcements did not come, El País stood up for the constitution in 7 extra editions, demonstrations were held in the street against the coup and the attempt failed.
The bullet holes are still visible in the ceiling. The Palacio del Congreso de Diputados can be visited every Saturday morning between 10:30 and 12:30. Bring your identity card.
Tonight a film premieres on the subject: www.23flapelicula.com
Mydrid, my city 