Europe Asia News

Czech President Petr Pavel responded to questions raised publicly about his trip to Morocco, emphasizing that the visit was not official but a private holiday. Pavel stated that the Presidential Office neither organized the trip nor covered its expenses.

Pavel said he traveled from Prague to Morocco on October 2 aboard an aircraft chartered for the needs of the Fesh Fesh team participating in the Rallye du Maroc. He explained that the organizers had offered them the remaining vacant seats on the aircraft and that he agreed to pay 3,750 euros for his seat.

Pavel stated that he used the services of a private Moroccan airline for flights from Casablanca, Morocco, to Prague and for his subsequent return to Morocco during the election period. He said that Tomáš Šebek, a member of the travel group, was responsible for organizing the flights. In addition to Šebek, Pavel Kubíček and a security officer accompanied Pavel on the trip.

Pavel announced that he had paid a total of 15,000 euros from his personal funds for the flights. He also stated that he returned from Morocco on Thursday, October 15, on a scheduled flight and expressed his belief that his explanation had clarified the matter.