Petr Pavel faces scrutiny over Morocco trip and private jet use

Czech President Petr Pavel has returned to Prague following a controversial vacation in Morocco. While the President initially traveled to North Africa via a private jet belonging to the Creditas group, his return journey involved a commercial Ryanair flight from Nador via Marseille, after he reportedly decided that another private flight would be excessive.

The trip has drawn significant political criticism regarding its financing and timing. Critics, including MP Jindřich Rajchl, have called for full transparency of the costs, questioning whether the President personally covered all expenses. The controversy is heightened by the fact that Pavel traveled to Morocco during the period of municipal elections, which he himself had scheduled. During the trip, he briefly returned to the Czech Republic via private jet to cancel his candidacy in his home district of Černouček before flying back to Morocco to continue his holiday.

The Presidential Office has stated that the trip was not organized or funded by public resources and that the costs of the private aircraft were shared among the participants of the expedition.