For the first time in decades, former Spanish monarch Juan Carlos I has decided to share his own perspective on the events that shook the country in February 1981. His memoirs shed light on details that had long been the subject of speculation and rumor. The focus is on his role during one of the most tense nights in Spain’s modern history.
The monarch emphasizes that, contrary to popular belief, his relationship with then Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez was not strained. He says that the distance between them was solely due to constitutional requirements, not personal disagreements. Suárez’s decision to resign came as a surprise to the king, even though Suárez had informed him of his plans in advance.
Meetings and forebodings: what happened before the coup
A special place in his memoirs is given to a meeting with General Alfonso Armada in the Pyrenees, which took place a few weeks before the attempted power grab. Juan Carlos explains that he wanted to personally gauge the mood among the military, but received no alarming signs. He admits he did not pay enough attention to certain warnings, including from his own father, who conveyed a threat from General Milans del Bosch to bring tanks onto the streets. Only later did it become clear just how serious these intentions were.
On the day armed rebels stormed the parliament, the king was caught off guard. He was especially surprised that the conspirators tried to justify their actions in his name. In those first moments, he contacted the army command, where General Armada was also present. The latter’s unusually calm demeanor struck the monarch as suspicious, only heightening his anxiety.
The Critical Night: Decisions and Consequences
Amid the crisis, a turning point came when the king’s inner circle prevented the conspirators from creating an illusion of his support. According to Juan Carlos, this was what ultimately thwarted the coup plotters’ plans. That same night, he called for his heir to witness firsthand how the fate of the country was being decided.
The monarch recalls contacting all captain generals to find out where they stood. In his view, some officers sympathized with the coup but would not openly challenge the head of state. He warned them about the consequences of a possible split, which could lead to civil war.
Address to the Nation and Lessons from History
Juan Carlos explains why his televised address to the nation was delayed: the national TV studios had been seized by the coup plotters, and an emergency broadcast had to be arranged from the royal residence. He admits that his long silence might have been seen as a sign of approval, which is why, after the events of February 23, a direct line was established between the palace and the television.
In his memoirs, the former monarch emphasizes that, on that night, it was not only his fate at stake, but the future of the entire country. His revelations offer a new perspective on the events that shaped the course of Spanish history.
