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Juan Carlos I Launches Memoir Push in France, Defending His Role in Spain’s Transition and Admitting ‘Grave Errors’

French interviews preview a memoir that blends contrition with a bid to shape his legacy.

Overview

  • The 512-page Réconciliation, co-written with Laurence Debray, is set for release on 5 November in France and on 3 December in Spain.
  • He says “democracy did not fall from the sky,” credits himself with giving Spaniards a democracy after Franco, and offers a more indulgent portrait of the dictator.
  • He reframes 23‑F as “not one coup but three,” accusing longtime aide General Alfonso Armada of betrayal for invoking his name.
  • On scandals, he calls the $100 million Saudi transfer “a grave error,” expresses regret over his relationship with Corinna Larsen, and notes that legal cases were dismissed.
  • He justifies his 2020 move to Abu Dhabi as protection for Felipe VI, describes isolation and a wish to return, and is reported to be planning a brief medical trip to Spain as the palace stays silent.