Antonio Tejero, the lieutenant colonel who has been hanging in the balance as the mastermind of Spain’s coup attempt in February 1981. He has now been put under life-support at a hospital in Valencia, Spain. However, on October 23, 2025, family sources have not only confirmed but also revealed that Tejero is still alive but critically sick following reports of his demises earlier on.
Historic February 23 Coup Attempt
It was Antonio Tejero along with the 250 armed members of the Civil Guard who orchestrated the failed coup d’état on February 23, 1981 by storming the Spanish Congress of Deputies located in Madrid. Among the very few who were aware of the situation outside the parliament, Tejero became infamous for his command “To the ground!” when, with his soldiers, he actually interrupted the parliamentary vote to swear in the new government president Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo.
The coup held the legislators hostage for a period of roughly 18 hours. King Juan Carlos I finally helped to end the coup with his televised speech in which he pledged loyalty to democracy and disapproved of the coup. Tejero with no political and military support surrendered on February 24, 1981, thus marking the end of the coup.
Current Health and Legacy
The year 1932, April 30, gave birth to Antonio Tejero in Málaga. He attended the General Academy of Zaragoza and enlisted in the Guardia Civil. He rose through the ranks and became a colonel. After the 1981 coup attempt, the force dismissed him, and the court sentenced him to 30 years in prison. He served half of his term and released in 1996. Due to poor health, he stayed in the hospital for years. Now, his family stays beside him in a private hospital in the Valencian town of Carcaixent.
Antonio Tejero, the chief coup plotter, is the face that directed much of modern Spanish history. He even post-prison release continued to be a divided personality being that he was very direct with his views on Spanish politics. No matter what his condition is at present, it is the end of the road for the person who shook Spanish democracy that fateful February day.
Also Read: Stolen Louvre Jewels Spark Intense Police Probe in Paris Heist
