Supreme Court rejects PM Babiš appeal over apology to former minister’s wife

The Czech Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), upholding a ruling requiring him to apologise to the wife of former Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (Civic Democratic Party). Babiš had falsely suggested during a parliamentary speech that Hana Malurová was involved in misappropriating funds from the budget of the city of Opava. He issued a formal apology in Parliament last June, acknowledging that his allegations were untrue. The court ruled his appeal inadmissible, leaving the earlier judgment in place. Babiš could still challenge the decision before the Constitutional Court.