A group of coup plotters with links to Tejero planned to kill Juan Carlos I

BarcelonaThree months before the 23-F coup attempt, there were already rumors of a coup in Spain. Alfonso Suárez's government was weakened, and within the Civil Guard, ideas and plans were circulating about how to sabotage the constitutional regime. Some of these are detailed in an unsigned document, dated November 1980, which is among the documents declassified this Wednesday—and which some books about the 23-F coup had already hinted at. According to this report, consulted by ARA, the coup plotters had devised various roadmaps to get rid of Suárez and replace his government with a more sympathetic one, without going through the ballot box under any circumstances. And, within the various military factions, there was a group linked to Operation Galaxia—another coup plot from 1978 that also featured Antonio Tejero—that planned to assassinate King Juan Carlos I if he did not align himself with the new regime.

"As for the king, his escape would be prevented, as well as that of ministers and other relevant individuals, subordinating the existence of the Crown and the life of its holder to the acceptance of the fait accompli," the document states, reflecting the position of this group, which in no way implicated other leaders of the attempted coup, such as Lieutenant General Jaime Milans del Bosch. The failure to control the monarch was, according to the coup plotters, also one of the keys to the coup's failure. Another declassified report—written after February 23rd but by the same person, as evidenced by the identical handwriting—reports that the military leadership of the coup acknowledged as a mistake having "left the Bourbon free and treated him as if he were a gentleman."

The document outlining the roadmap, until now in the possession of the Civil Guard, confirms that three different paths to achieving regime change were on the table: a civilian one, a military one, and a mixed one. Regarding the military route, the report identifies three different positions within the army: that of the lieutenant generals, that of the colonels, and that of a third group that it identifies as "spontaneous" ["spontaneous", sic, in the handwritten document]. What is known about this group? The report suggests that they already surfaced in Operation Galaxia, the plan devised by Antonio Tejero, Ricardo Sáenz de Ynestrillas, and a colonel from the general staff, who thought the best course of action was to take the middle road "given the lack of unanimous military consensus."

Fraga, possible civilian leader

The operation by this group of "spontaneous" individuals, supported by "numerous local groups" within the Civil Guard's organizational structure, lacked a fixed plan of action. However, the report warns that, nevertheless, it was viable and that there could be active connections between these conspirators and those attempting to devise a roadmap for the coup from within the ranks of the colonels. "[There are] serious fears that the action could be carried out and succeed," the document states, warning of the risk of a division within the armed forces, "with the danger of civil war."

The report also notes that there were "rumors" that Manuel Fraga was in contact with the conspiring colonels. Furthermore, the lieutenant generals also identified Fraga as the leader who should spearhead the coup from a civilian perspective and convince the generals, while warning that within the armed forces there was resistance to establishing a regime with a "Pinochet or Videla-style" military presence.

Within the civilian route, several options were considered to overthrow Suárez's government, such as a coalition with critics from the UCD and the ex-Francoist sector, a government of the PSOE and the People's Alliance, or a socialist government. The report considered this last scenario the most viable, provided a general with a liberal profile was appointed president with the support of the Crown. A formula combining civilian and military approaches was also proposed, with a mixed government supported by the PSOE and the UCD, comprised of political leaders and members of the military. At the time the report was written, this alternative had reportedly been in development for a year.

A second coup d'état

Another handwritten document states that, after February 23rd, another group of military officers reactivated their plans to attempt the coup again. According to this information, the one who would have led the assault was Lieutenant General Jesús González del Yerro, who was at odds with Milans del Bosch, and who was the first military commander to oppose the coup on February 23, 1981, and call the King to offer his support. However, according to this information, this did not mean that he had any intention of respecting the democratic regime, but rather that he disagreed with how the February 23rd coup had been orchestrated. For this new coup attempt, González del Yerro allegedly sought the support of Commander José Luis Cortina of the CESID (National Intelligence Center). Cortina is one of the six secret service agents Those implicated in the 23-F coup attempt, according to documents revealed today, although he was acquitted in the 23-F trial. "Work is proceeding at full speed so that before the end of May or the beginning of June, the military coup that Armada envisioned will take place," that is, one that would lead to a government of national unity. There is even talk of a "constitutional coup," orchestrated by the Crown and with a UCD-PSOE coalition government.

In contrast to the "constitutional coup," another option was a "Turkish-style coup." "This coup would also have the support of the king (not yet confirmed), and once Spanish life was normalized and terrorism quelled, it would propose the restoration of political normality and the return of the parties," the document adds. Theoretically, it would have the support of "the civilian sector close to Fraga, while sectors close to Francoism would be marginalized" to "save face."

A possible date and location are even suggested for the second coup attempt: "The King's name day is celebrated at the Royal Palace on June 24th." Not only the monarch would be present, but also members of the Spanish government, members of parliament, and senators. However, the presence of the diplomatic corps from other countries is noted as a drawback. "The occasion would be ideal, as it would bring together, on a much larger scale, all the circumstances of February 23rd." "In any case, the most urgent thing is to realize that another military operation with incalculable consequences has been launched, led by González del Yerro and Cortina's apparatus," it concludes. This coup did not succeed, but the so-called Operation Falcon did take shape. It was ultimately dismantled and aimed to overthrow the government after the 1982 elections, which Felipe González won.