King Juan Carlos opens up about Franco

In his memoir, King Juan Carlos opened up about Francisco Franco and bringing democracy to Spain after the dictator’s death.

After the release of his book Reconciliation, he gave an interview to French television where he spoke of bringing democracy to Spain.

Regarding Spain’s constitution, the King praised his responsibility for bringing democracy to Spain.

“The monarchy must be seen as what gives permanence and stability to a country. And above all, it is a guarantee for democracy. … It gave power to the people, to Congress. It is the only Constitution in Europe with a name. It is called the Constitution of King Juan Carlos,” he said.

Franco chose the King over his father, the Count of Barcelona, and Juan Carlos admitted he hesitated to take on the role. However, Torcuato Fernández-Miranda provided reassurance that he could dismantle Francoism once he took the throne.

Upon accepting the role as Franco’s heir, King Juan Carlos confessed that he knew “it was necessary to prepare for the future and remain calm while waiting for the moment. I believe that at that time we had to accept what was happening and the situation in Spain. I had to accept things as they came.”

Franco moulded Juan Carlos into his successor, but upon the dictator’s death, Juan Carlos did not continue his iron fist rule but instead helped turn Spain into the democracy it is today.

The King, though, shared with France 3 that Franco knew he was planning to end the dictatorship. He said Franco had things on his desk in 1971 to bring democracy to Spain.

He said Franco told him before he died in 1975, “The only thing I ask of you is that you maintain the unity of Spain.”