Sounds of car horns, shouts of "Viva España" and indifference in Tejero's farewell

XàtivaFlags of Spain on bracelets or tied to vehicle rearview mirrors, many of them high-end, and various badges, most with patriotic messages. These are some of the distinguishing features with which it has been easy to identify the attendees at the wake, funeral, and subsequent cremation of the former Civil Guard lieutenant colonel Antonio Tejero, which was held this Thursday in the Valencian town of Xàtiva, next to the neighboring city of Alzira, where one of the daughters of the revolting ex-uniformed officer resided, and before transferring his remains to Torre del Mar in Malaga.

Tejero's farewell has fallen far short of the significance that someone who aspired to play a key role in Spain's history to the point of co-leading a coup d'état would surely have desired. In fact, beyond family and friends, the attendees at the funeral home barely exceeded a dozen people, who could not even access the premises and had to remain at the gates, where a private security team restricted access to anyone who did not have the family's approval. Among those who were able to enter the funeral was José Luis Roberto, the well-known Valencian leader of España 2000.

Unlike Roberto, those who were unable to gain access were Toni and José Antonio, the only two admirers of Tejero who were present all afternoon. First at the gates of the funeral home, and then at the crematorium. The former is a resident of Alzira who knows the ex-lieutenant colonel's son-in-law, while the latter is a 23-year-old who has traveled more than 100 kilometers separating the city of Elche from Xàtiva. He has done so in an old Citroën C-15 van that is over 35 years old and has a broken odometer. This shows that his admiration for Tejero understands no distances or comforts.

With José Antonio and Toni, the two souls of the current Spanish far-right are represented: Vox and Se Acabó la Fiesta. Toni belongs to the formation led by Santiago Abascal, who explains that his admiration for the coup plotter stems from the fact that he considers Tejero a "true patriot" who was capable of putting Spain above all else. José Antonio is more forceful, defending the use of violence and believing that the coup d'état failed because its instigators were not decisive enough. Initially, he declares himself apolitical and emphasizes that he rejects "the monarchy in all its forms," but shortly after, he expresses his sympathy for Alvise Pérez's party, which he explains he has not yet voted for, but is considering.

Flowers from the Francisco Franco Foundation

The conversation with José Antonio and Toni takes place at the gates of the funeral home, located in an industrial estate, and right in front of a roundabout. Some drivers take advantage of this location to shout at the journalists and television cameras waiting for the coffin to emerge, which will leave through the back door with flower wreaths from the Francisco Franco Foundation and España 2000. Others honk their horns and pass by the entrance to the premises again and again. There are also those who shout "Viva España," in proclamations that are difficult to say whether they are patriotic or ironic. The slogan of some passengers who insult Tejero is more transparent. The majority of drivers, however, limit themselves to recording the scene with their mobile phones and simply drive past.