Imagen de fondo
  • Home
  • The Minister of Defence presides over an act of gratitude to protagonists of our recent history on the occasion of the 1981 Spanish coup d'etat attempt
Share it on: Share on Facebook Share it on Twitter Share on Linkedin

The Minister of Defence presides over an act of gratitude to protagonists of our recent history on the occasion of the 1981 Spanish coup d'etat attempt

Monday, March 8, 2021

Number: 8346

In the Centre for Advanced National Defence Studies

The Minister of Defence presided over the event

The Minister of Defence presided over the event

Attendees at the recognition ceremony

Attendees at the recognition ceremony

Lieutenant Colonel Pardo de Santayana in her speech

Lieutenant Colonel Pardo de Santayana in her speech

The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has chaired an act of gratitude to protagonists of our recent history in which Adolfo Suárez, Manuel Gutiérrez Mellado and Santiago Carrillo have been honoured for their special personal and institutional dignity during the assault on the Spanish Congress of the Deputies in the coup attempt carried out on February 23, 1981 (“23-F” in the Spanish numeronym).

The event, held on March the 5th at the facilities of the Centre for Advanced National Defence Studies (Madrid), also wanted to recall the role of the then President and Vice President of the Government as promoters of the intense reform, transformation and modernisation of the Armed Forces since the 1978 Constitution.

Minister Robles has highlighted with emotion and pride the image of these three men who, coming from different worlds, have left a legacy of generosity and tolerance. "Thanks to all three for having defended institutions, democracy and, above all, for showing that human beings have values within and that we do not have to go looking for differences," said Robles, who concluded: "From the union of us all is how we are going to continue giving better generations that work for peace, for dignity and for equality, as the Armed Forces do every day, modern and bound to society”.

Family members of Captain General Gutiérrez Mellado; the Duchess of Suárez - granddaughter of President Suárez, Alejandra Romero; Santiago Carrillo's son, Professor José Carrillo Menéndez and Professor Manuel Núñez Encabo participated in this meeting, representing the deputies of the first legislature, held hostage on 23-F.

Transformation of the Armed Forces

In the second part of the act, attention focused on the Armed Forces. In this sense, they wanted to recall some of the most significant events that have transformed them, with a series of talks given by Lieutenant General Fernando López del Pozo, Vice Admiral Ignacio Horcada and Lieutenant Colonel Pardo de Santayana. Among these milestones are Spain's adherence to NATO, the leading role in foreign operations and the professionalisation of the Armed Forces, as well as their incorporation of women. All of which have contributed to a more prepared and modern Armed Forces, as they have recently been able to demonstrate with the “Balmis” operation or the help provided in the “Filomena” storm, and to increasing the influence of Spain at international level.