TLDR

Czech opposition party ANO called for a no-confidence vote against the government over a $45 million Bitcoin scandal
Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned after the ministry sold nearly 500 Bitcoin received from a convicted drug trafficker
The Bitcoin came from Tomas Jirikovsky, who was convicted in 2017 for drug trafficking, embezzlement, and weapons violations
New Justice Minister Eva Decroix promised an independent investigation into the ministry’s actions
The no-confidence vote is scheduled for Tuesday but likely to fail as the government holds a parliamentary majority

The Czech Republic’s main opposition party has called for a no-confidence vote against the government following a controversial Bitcoin transaction worth $45 million. The ANO party, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, filed the motion after accusing the government of corruption.

The scandal centers around the Justice Ministry’s sale of nearly 500 Bitcoin in May. The ministry received the cryptocurrency from Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted criminal who ran an online black market. Jirikovsky was sentenced in 2017 for drug trafficking, embezzlement, and weapons violations.

The ministry sold the Bitcoin for 1 billion Czech koruna ($45 million) through an auction on May 28. The sale sparked immediate controversy when details emerged about the source of the cryptocurrency. Opposition parties questioned whether proper legal procedures were followed before the transaction.

Justice Minister Pavel Blazek faced mounting pressure over his handling of the situation. Critics argued he should have consulted prosecutors or police before accepting the Bitcoin donation. The controversy raised questions about legitimizing assets from convicted criminals.

Blazek resigned on May 30, though he denied any wrongdoing. He said his decision was meant to protect the government’s reputation ahead of October elections. The minister maintained that all actions were legal and proper.

New Minister Promises Investigation

Czech President Petr Pavel appointed Eva Decroix as the new justice minister on Tuesday. Decroix immediately promised to order an independent investigation into the ministry’s actions. She committed to full cooperation with any probe into the donation case.

Panu prezidentovi jsem dnes představila kroky směřující k objasnění bitcoinové kauzy a ujistila jej o tom, že legislativní procesy v gesci ministerstva budou dotaženy. Pana prezidenta jsem také požádala, aby využil svoji autoritu a mandát k uklidnění situace, aby bylo o… pic.twitter.com/r01ef2p07q

— Eva DECROIX (@eva_decroix) June 9, 2025

The ANO party has demanded answers about who authorized the Bitcoin transaction. They want to know if the cryptocurrency’s origin was properly vetted before the sale. The party also claims auction winners are seeking refunds and asking about compensation sources.

Political Implications

The no-confidence vote is scheduled for Tuesday but is unlikely to succeed. The government maintains a majority in parliament, making it difficult for the opposition to remove the administration. However, the scandal could impact the ruling center-right coalition’s chances in October elections.

Opinion polls show the ANO party leading over Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s ODS party. The Bitcoin controversy adds another challenge for the government as it approaches the election. The opposition hopes to use the scandal to highlight alleged corruption issues.

Alena Schillerova, ANO’s vice chair, said the party had “no choice” but to file the no-confidence motion. She posted on social media that the government’s handling of the Bitcoin donation required parliamentary action. The party views the situation as evidence of broader corruption problems.

Nemáme na vybranou. Právě jsem jménem poslaneckého klubu Hnutí ANO podala návrh na svolání mimořádné schůze k vyslovení nedůvěry vládě Petra Fialy. První vlády, která spolupracovala s mafií.

— Alena Schillerová (@alenaschillerov) June 12, 2025

The former convict who donated the Bitcoin served in jail from 2017 to 2021. His involvement in drug trafficking and weapons offenses raised questions about accepting his assets. The government now faces scrutiny over its decision-making process regarding criminal proceeds.

The new justice minister has committed to transparency in handling the investigation. Decroix’s appointment represents an attempt to restore confidence in the ministry’s operations. The government hopes her leadership will help address the scandal’s fallout.

The post Czech Government Faces No-Confidence Vote Over $45 Million Bitcoin Scandal appeared first on CoinCentral.

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Filed under: News - @ June 13, 2025 9:25 am