The documents from February 23rd are now available for consultation.

Barcelona / MadridThis week marks the 45th anniversary of the attempted coup of February 23rd and the Spanish government has decided that it was time to declassify the documentation which has been kept under wraps for years. The order to lift the secrecy order was published early this morning. This Wednesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE)The document justifies the need to make public the "matters, documents, information, data, and objects" related to the military uprising led by Antonio Tejero, Alfonso Armada, and Jaime Milans del Bosch. These are 153 "documentary units" that have already been made public. They can be viewed here.

"Understanding the lessons of February 23rd contributes to protecting our society from repeating past mistakes and strengthens the quality of our democratic system," argues the Sánchez government in the declassification order published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). The order justifies the decision based on the rights to freedom of information, communication, and receiving truthful information, as well as the public's right of access to administrative archives and records. One of those who has welcomed the decision is former Spanish President Felipe González, who on Wednesday demanded to know all the details of February 23rd and, especially, to shed light on the King's role that day. "I want everything declassified and a law to guarantee it. A law similar to the British or German ones. We can't continue like this," he emphasized.

González made these remarks on Wednesday at the presentation of a book about the King in the Senate, where King Felipe VI was also present. Despite demanding the release of information that would allow people to "truly know" what Juan Carlos did, he also defended his "decisive" role in the "uninterrupted" establishment of democracy. González was one of the members of parliament present in the chamber when Tejero entered. The former president stressed the importance of knowing "the entire process" of the attempted coup.

Understanding History

The official gazette (BOE) order also highlights that the fact that almost half a century has passed since the 23-F coup attempt eliminates the "risk" that declassification could pose to national security and defense. The government also points out that other countries in the region, such as Italy and Greece, have recently declassified "sensitive files" to "promote a more complete understanding of their history," and that in 2012 Germany released the transcript of a private meeting between its ambassador and King Juan Carlos I specifically about the 23-F coup attempt. "Knowledge of our collective history cannot depend on information revealed by other states: citizens have the right to access their past through their own institutions," asserts the Spanish government, which also justifies the measure by citing repeated requests from the academic and journalistic communities and numerous parliamentary parties. Congress awaits further action.

Where Wednesday's declassification has not gone unnoticed is at the site of the 23-F coup attempt. In Congress, the Spanish government's decision has sparked another confrontation between Pedro Sánchez and Alberto Núñez Feijóo. The leader of the People's Party (PP) has vowed to "declassify" Sánchez's administration if he reaches La Moncloa (the Prime Minister's official residence) and has alluded to the controversies surrounding Sánchez's government and his inner circle, which the PP uses as a weapon: "We will declassify the contracts that have resulted in kickbacks," Feijóo said, referring to the legal cases that are cornering the Socialists for alleged corruption. "We won't have to wait 45 years to find out what his government has done, because we won't know within 45 days of the change of government," Feijóo reiterated.

Sánchez, who criticized his "unfortunate" tone, didn't hesitate to mock his speech: "I imagine him in front of the mirror reading [the speech] and preparing these lies [...] For something you only have to do once a week." Sánchez reproached him for lecturing and also took the opportunity to remind him of the controversies surrounding the Popular Party, starting with Carlos Mazón's role in the Valencia storm, whom the judge has just charged. "Instead of politics for adults, [you do] politics for extremists," Sánchez asserted to Feijóo.

Meanwhile, EH Bildu again criticized the Spanish government for only declassifying documents related to the 23-F coup attempt. "It's a long-standing demand, but it's not enough," the party spokesperson told him. Basque nationalistMertxe Aizpurua, to Sánchez. Like the rest of the partners in the investiture bloc, the Basque separatists celebrate the decision, but ask the government to go further and, above all, to end the Francoist law of official secrets.