Javier Cercas at Hay Festival: EL PAÍS Deserves Immense Credit for 23-F Coverage

Author and critic Javier Cercas addressed the historic weight of Spain’s failed 1981 coup during an appearance at the Hay Festival of Segovia, pointing directly to the atmosphere of fear that defined the moment. Speaking at the cultural event, Cercas argued that the relative silence that followed the February 23 military takeover attempt stemmed from widespread terror among the citizenry rather than indifference or complicity.

Javier Cercas on the Silence of 23-F

According to coverage by EL PAÍS, Cercas emphasized that the lack of immediate public pushback against the coup plotters on February 23, 1981, must be understood through the lens of genuine panic.

Nadie dijo ni pío el 23-F porque había miedo.

Javier Cercas

That climate of fear, the author noted, shaped how the nation experienced the hours when lieutenant colonel Antonio Tejero and armed guardias civiles held the Spanish Congress of Deputies hostage.

The Role of EL PAÍS in the Democratic Transition

Expanding on his assessment of that historical juncture, Cercas highlighted the institutional courage displayed by the newspaper EL PAÍS during the unfolding crisis. According to EL PAÍS, the author asserted that the publication earned an undeniable merit by standing firm for democratic stability when the outcome of the coup remained dangerously uncertain.

The Segovia appearance placed fresh focus on how media institutions navigated the hours of the military uprising, providing a critical anchor for public information while democratic structures hung in the balance. Cercas’s remarks at the Hay Festival underscored the ongoing cultural reckoning with the events of 23-F, examining both the terror that paralyzed parts of society and the vital stance taken by independent journalism during a defining test for Spain’s young democracy.