Juan Carlos, on Felipe VI: "He is a good king, but he is going through a very difficult time."

ParisThree weeks after the publication in France of the emeritus king's memoirs, Juan Carlos I gave an interview this Wednesday on the public television channel France 3 in which he elaborated on ideas from the book. ReconciliationThe father of the current King of Spain reviews the key moments of the Transition and speaks about Felipe VI, for whom he always has kind words. However, the King Emeritus believes that the Spanish political situation and the global context have placed him in a difficult position. "He is a good king, but he is going through a very difficult time and we must support him," he asserts. When the interviewer, journalist Stéphane Bern, asks him why he is going through a difficult time, Juan Carlos offers a vague answer. "The political situation, in every country, is very difficult," he replies before the interviewer moves on to another topic. Bern addresses Juan Carlos's mistakes, which led first to his abdication and then to his departure from Spain, such as extramarital affairs, the alleged commissions paid to Spanish companies in the awarding of the AVE high-speed rail contract to Mecca, and the existence of an account with 10 million euros in the name of the former chief prosecutor. On this matter, the emeritus king is emphatic. "I'm used to feeling all sorts of things. Everyone can think what they want. But everything is settled, it's all over, I'm at peace," he maintains. "Do you regret anything?" the interviewer asks. "No," he replies. "And do you have any remorse?" he insists. "No. I try not to," he answers.

Apology to the family and the Spanish people

However, at other points in the roughly 25-minute interview, it's clear he expresses regret for some things. "I have served Spain, the Spanish people, and sometimes I haven't paid enough attention to my family. I hope they will forgive me and that the Spanish people will understand what I have done," he states.

The interviewer doesn't delve into his relationship with Franco—as Juan Carlos does in his memoirs—nor does he discuss the criticisms the former monarch makes of the current Spanish government at various points in the book. Felipe VI's father, who boasts of returning to Spain every month to compete in sailing regattas and enjoy fine dining, speaks perfect French—the former monarch considers it her native language, as she reveals to Reconciliation—but he speaks with little enunciation and looks tired. Juan Carlos, 87, says he would like to return to Spain. The interview, recorded in Abu Dhabi, airs tonight on France 3, but the public broadcaster has been offering it on its website since this morning.