Tejero - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Jesús Antonio González de la Tejera Moreno, commonly known as Tejero, is a Spanish retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Civil Guard. 2. Tejero is best known for his role in the failed coup d'état on February 23, 1981, known as the 23-F coup attempt. 3. Tejero led a group of Civil Guard officers who stormed the Spanish Congress of Deputies during the coup attempt, holding the parliamentarians hostage at gunpoint. 4. The coup attempt was eventually thwarted by King Juan Carlos I, who made a televised address denouncing the coup and ordering the military to stand down. 5. Tejero was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the coup attempt. 6. He was released from prison in 1996 after serving 15 years, following a reduction in his sentence for good behavior. 7. Tejero has remained a controversial figure in Spain, with some viewing him as a symbol of the country's fascist past and others as a hero who stood up against a corrupt government. 8. After his release from prison, Tejero largely retreated from the public eye and has kept a low profile. 9. In recent years, he has made occasional public appearances, including interviews and speeches at far-right political events. 10. Tejero's actions on February 23, 1981, continue to be a topic of debate and controversy in Spain, with many considering it a pivotal moment in the country's transition to democracy.