Filip Turek is known for his fast cars and outspoken remarks. The Czech Foreign Minister, Petr Macinka, once hailed the tall blonde as the “icon” of his party “Motoristé sobě,” which translates to “Motorists Among Themselves.” This party gained prominence in the 2022 Prague local elections with a campaign against excessive bike lanes and later committed to fighting the EU’s climate policy, particularly after Turek joined them as a well-known auto influencer.
Recently, however, Turek’s political career is facing a potential downfall. On a fateful Monday, his large SUV collided with an emergency vehicle in downtown Prague, which was transporting “biological materials” with its lights and sirens activated. The police vehicle overturned, injuring the driver, and pedestrians were narrowly spared from harm.
The Impactful Collision
While accidents involving emergency vehicles are not uncommon, it was revealed through surveillance footage that Turek’s black Mercedes G 500, a vehicle he proudly showcases on social media, was seen bypassing traffic using a lane designated for left-turning traffic. Moments later, as he merged right towards the intersection, the collision occurred.
Another video captured the emergency vehicle rolling over shortly after the crash. A man resembling Turek, dressed in a light suit, was seen running towards the scene.
Turek has always been a contentious figure in the Czech Republic. Before entering politics, he built a reputation online by showcasing his collection of luxury sports cars, posing in racing gear, and making provocative statements against “woke” culture and environmentalism.
Speeding Through Controversy
Turek’s disregard for traffic regulations has been documented before; he once posted an image of his speedometer at 200 km/h, only to later admit that it wasn’t on a German autobahn but rather in the Czech Republic where speed limits applied.
Despite the controversies, Turek maintains a significant fanbase. Initially, Macinka aimed to promote him to the position of Foreign Minister after their party gained seats in parliament. However, various socially charged posts attributed to Turek, including racist, homophobic, and misogynistic comments, surfaced and posed a threat to this ambition.
Turek offered apologies, attributing some posts to “foolishness” and his “dark humor,” while denying authorship of others. Macinka attempted to secure Turek a position as Environment Minister, but President Petr Pavel categorically refused to appoint him, leaving Turek with a lesser role as a government commissioner for climate policy and the Green Deal.
In the aftermath of the collision, the opposition demanded Turek’s resignation. On Tuesday, Babiš also distanced himself from Turek. Babiš stated that if the events unfolded as captured on the footage, Turek must accept responsibility, emphasizing that it could have led to a much larger tragedy. Later that evening, Turek announced that he would step back from his duties, stating that if found guilty, he would resign entirely.
