Czech PM BabiΕ‘ apologizes for picking flowers in national park
Czech Prime Minister Andrej BabiΕ‘ apologized Sunday for picking flowers in a protected area on LysΓ‘ hora, a mountain in eastern Czechia, saying he would pay a fine if necessary.
BabiΕ‘ said in a Facebook video that he plucked the flowers while remembering a late colleague from his ANO movement with whom he had previously climbed the mountain.
βMaybe I broke some law, for which I apologize and I will definitely pay a fine if necessary, of course,β he said.
Footage from Saturdayβs hike posted to BabiΕ‘β Facebook page showed the prime minister climbing with a small bunch of flowers before laying them at a monument on the summit. BabiΕ‘ was joined by two ministers, ANO politicians and supporters on the 1,324-meter peak, the highest point in the Moravian-Silesian Beskids.
An environmental expert working for an organization overseen by the Czech Environment Ministry told Czech local media outlet iDNES that BabiΕ‘ had picked two thoroughly ordinary species β narrow-leaved willowherb and Fuchsβ ragwort β and was unlikely to face punishment.
βThey are completely common flowers,β said the expert, whom the outlet did not name. βAbsolutely no problem, not even in a national park.β