King Juan Carlos I’s 1981 Address: A Response to the Coup Attempt
King Juan Carlos I’s televised address to the Spanish people in the early hours of February 24, 1981, condemned the coup attempt led by Lieutenant Colonel Antonio Tejero on February 23. This address holds immense historical significance, clarifying the Crown’s stance and actions against the uprising.
Juan Carlos I, born in Rome in 1938 and designated by Franco as his successor in 1969, led Spain’s transition to democracy after Franco’s death. This message, while inherently political, carries legal weight due to its context and purpose—the denouncement of a coup d’état—and its public broadcast to the Spanish people via television.
The text can be divided into three thematic blocks:
- Initial Response and Reassurance: The first three lines address the “extraordinary circumstances” and aim to instill “calm and confidence” in the Spanish populace. Juan Carlos I directly references the February 23 coup, where Lieutenant Colonel Tejero and roughly 200 Civil Guards stormed the Congress of Deputies during the vote for Calvo Sotelo’s inauguration as president. The King acknowledges the hostage situation, the live broadcast of the events, and the parallel military movements in Valencia led by General Jaime Milans del Bosch. He assures the nation that measures are being taken to quell the coup.
- Orders to the Armed Forces: The subsequent lines (3-8) outline the King’s directives to the military following the coup’s outbreak. He explicitly condemns the assault on the Congress, the symbol of Spain’s democratically elected legislature. Juan Carlos I emphasizes the importance of upholding the 1978 Constitution and his role as Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He directs the Joint Chiefs of Staff to counteract the coup and maintain constitutional legality.
- Reaffirmation of Democratic Values: The final lines reiterate the King’s condemnation of the coup and underscore the Crown’s commitment to democracy. He emphasizes the significance of the 1978 Constitution, ratified by popular referendum, and highlights national sovereignty. He stresses that any changes must occur through legal, democratic processes, rejecting armed struggle. The coup leaders, claiming to act in defense of Spain against ETA terrorism, rising unemployment, and regionalism, were seen by many as opposing democracy and seeking to maintain the former dictatorship. The failure of the coup was largely attributed to the lack of support from high-ranking military officials and the King’s firm stance. However, criticism arose regarding the delay in the King’s televised address, which occurred six hours after the Congress’s occupation, by which time many believed the coup had already failed.