The Czech government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote triggered by a $45 million Bitcoin scandal involving a donation from a convicted darknet drug trafficker. The Bitcoin, totaling approximately 468 BTC, was transferred from Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted drug dealer and weapons offender, to the Ministry of Justice without adequate verification of its origins. Former Justice Minister Pavel Blažek accepted the donation and sold the coins shortly thereafter, allocating roughly 30% of the proceeds to the state. This action raised concerns about potential laundering and circumvention of law enforcement procedures.
The opposition parties ANO, SPD, and the Pirates united to challenge the governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS) led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala. The no-confidence motion, held on June 18 and June 19, received 94 votes in favor but fell short by seven votes, leaving Fiala's coalition intact but politically shaken ahead of the October parliamentary elections.
After mounting political and public pressure, Blažek resigned as justice minister on May 30. Eva Decroix was appointed his successor and has promised an independent probe ensuring transparency and cooperation with investigators. The scandal has intensified scrutiny over the oversight of high-value cryptocurrency transactions involving public officials.
Fiala acknowledged mistakes were made and that the scandal has "shaken public confidence" in his party. Critics stress the need for comprehensive investigations to prevent any illegal conduct or cover-ups. The scandal also reflects broader global concerns about the ethical implications and regulatory challenges posed by digital assets intersecting with political power.