Czech PM apologizes for picking flowers in protected zone

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has apologized after picking flowers in a protected national park, stating he is prepared to pay any fine if required. The incident occurred during a hike with members of his ANO party in the Beskydy Mountains.

“

It is possible that I broke some law, for which I apologize, and I will certainly pay the fine, if necessary, of course.

In a video released Sunday, Babiš appeared to be holding a bouquet of flowers picked during the hike. He explained that he picked the flowers in memory of a female ANO party member who died in 2016, recalling a hike they took together in 2015. "I will always remember that trip. So I put the flower on top and remembered her," Babiš said.

Local media identified the flowers as purple loosestrife and yellow elder. However, an anonymous source from an organization under the Ministry of Environment told Czech publication iDNES.cz that the flowers were "absolutely ordinary" and "not a problem at all, not even in a national park." The park's regulations prohibit visitors from picking flowers and disturbing the environment.

“

I will always remember that trip. So I put the flower on top and remembered her.

Babiš, a businessman who returned to lead the government after his party won parliamentary elections, has previously faced scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest related to his business dealings and accusations of fraud and collaboration with the communist-era secret police, which he has denied.

“

They are absolutely ordinary flowers. It is not a problem at all, not even in a national park.