Spain used this stamp issue to try to show respect for the professionalism of the then three branches of the national police. By professionalism, crime fighting was not on the agenda, they meant serving loyally left governments as well as right. It didn’t work and two of the branches were disbanded, just like Franco had done in 1939. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
The national police force was not disbanded immediately after Franco’s death and the country’s politics moved left. King Juan Carlos was trying to keep some continuity so the right wouldn’t rebel restarting the 30s civil war. The reforming was gradual. Some leaders were pensioned off and this stamp shows the new uniforms that changed their look. There was also a new police labor union, that weeded out right wingers. The left was dissatisfied with these reforms and the police force was abolished and replaced in 1986.
Todays stamp is issue A627 a 9 Paseta stamp issued by the Kingdom of Spain on March 23rd 1983. It was a three stamp issue honoring the then 3 divisions of the National Police. This stamp shows the urban National Police Force. There were also stamps for the rural Civil Guard and the Superior Police Corp, a non uniformed secret police. Only the Civil Guard still exists. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether it is mint or used.
During the bloody 30s civil war, the national police sided with the left republican side while the Civil Guard leadership stayed republican but about half of the rank and file went to Franco’s side. After Franco won the civil war, the national police were reformed as the Policia Armada and a Republican Civil Guard General was executed. From these reorganizations, the national police could be relied upon by Franco and despised by the left. When Franco died, his chosen successor King Juan Carlos picked from the old Royal House took over. Quickly the left found themselves taking power in the government. Personally however the King was a conservative figure that it was hoped could maintain the loyalty of the Franco police until they could be quietly purged.
It was not to be, in 1981 Civil Guard Coronel, Antonio Tejero, attempted a coup. He had a lot of experience combating Basque separatists and was outraged the left government had legalized their flag. The separatists had the tactic of flying their banned flag and when the Civil Guard police force tried to remove it, a bomb was attached. Several police had died this way. Tejero sent a sarcastic letter to his superiors asking if he was now to salute the now legal flag. In 1981 Tejero lead 150 soldiers and policeman into the lower house of Parliament taking the Deputies prisoner. When the rest of the army didn’t join him, the King got on tv at midnight and ordered them to surrender to avoid violence. Tejero surrendered the next day.
While awaiting trial for treason, Tejero formed a right wing political party called Solidarity and attempted to get a seat for himself in Parliament from his jail cell. A sitting member of Parliament would have had immunity from prosecution. His slogan was enter with Tejero into the Parliament. He got 28,000 votes, not enough for a seat. He served 15 years in jail. Tejero is still alive and served as a pallbearer recently at the funeral of Franco’s daughter.
As much as it must have annoyed them, the left followed Franco’s example and disbanded the National Police and purged the Civil Guard so that what was reformed was directly under their control. Necessary of course, but it does not take George Orwell to see the irony.
Well my drink is empty and I am always happy to toast professional, non political national police. Given the virtual FBI coup attempt in the USA recently, they are as hard to find here as in Spain. Too bad, I could have used another drink. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.