Czech PM Babiš apologizes for picking flowers in national park

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš issued an apology on Sunday for plucking flowers in a protected area on Lysá hora mountain in eastern Czechia. In a Facebook video, Babiš admitted he picked the blossoms while paying tribute to a late colleague from his ANO movement who had previously climbed the mountain with him. "Perhaps I violated some law, for which I apologize and will undoubtedly pay a fine if necessary, of course," Babiš stated.

The prime minister's hike on Saturday was captured on video and shared on his Facebook page. In the footage, Babiš is seen ascending the 1,324-meter peak with a small bunch of flowers, which he subsequently placed at a monument. Babiš was accompanied by two ministers, ANO party members, and supporters during the ascent.

An environmental expert affiliated with an organization overseen by the Czech Environment Ministry informed Czech media that the flowers Babiš collected were two relatively common species — narrow-leaved willowherb and Fuchs’ ragwort. The expert explained to iDNES, a local news outlet, that these flowers posed little risk of incurring any penalties. "They are completely common flowers," the expert stated, emphasizing that there was "absolutely no problem, not even in a national park."