Key facts
- Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš apologized for picking flowers in a protected area on Lysá hora.
- Babiš stated he would pay a fine if necessary.
- The flowers picked were identified as narrow-leaved willowherb and Fuchs’ ragwort.
- An environmental expert suggested the flowers were common and unlikely to lead to punishment.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš apologized on Sunday for picking flowers in a protected area on Lysá hora, a mountain in eastern Czechia. In a Facebook video, Babiš explained that he had plucked the flowers while remembering a late colleague from his ANO movement with whom he had previously climbed the mountain. He stated, “Maybe I broke some law, for which I apologize and I will definitely pay a fine if necessary, of course.” Footage from Saturday’s hike, posted to Babiš’ Facebook page, showed the prime minister climbing with a small bunch of flowers before laying them at a monument on the summit. Babiš was accompanied by two ministers, ANO politicians, and supporters on the 1,324-meter peak. However, an environmental expert consulted by Czech local media outlet iDNES suggested that Babiš had picked two common species, narrow-leaved willowherb and Fuchs’ ragwort, and was unlikely to face punishment, noting, “They are completely common flowers. Absolutely no problem, not even in a national park.”