Colonel Lieutenant Antonio Tejero, known for his role in the failed coup attempt in Spain in 1981, has passed away, according to information from his lawyer reported by AFP. Tejero gained infamy for leading an armed civil guard assault on the Spanish parliament on January 23, 1981, where he held lawmakers hostage for nearly 24 hours. The coup aimed at restoring the fascist regime that ruled Spain until 1975, which reflected a significant struggle within the country regarding its democratic transition after the dictatorship.

The coup attempt ultimately failed, largely due to the decisive response of King Juan Carlos I, who ordered the military to remain in their barracks instead of supporting the coup. This action was crucial in preserving democracy in Spain, which was in a precarious state during the transition from authoritarian rule. Tejero's actions and the events of the coup are still regarded as pivotal moments in Spanish history as they exposed the tensions between the legacy of Franco’s regime and the emerging democratic government.

Tejero's legacy is controversial; while some view him as a failed reactionary figure, others consider the coup attempt as an expression of the lingering influence of the old regime in contemporary Spain. His death marks the closing chapter of a historical figure who represented an important, albeit turbulent, period in the nation’s political narrative.