The Czech Republic’s Civic Democratic Party survived another no-confidence vote, triggered by opposition party concerns over a $45 million Bitcoin donation linked to a convicted criminal. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Civic Democratic Party withstood a fourth attempt to topple their government in three years — this time with opposition parties uniting against them over a $45 million Bitcoin scandal. The scandal centers around a 1 billion Czech koruna ($45 million) Bitcoin (BTC) donation made to the Ministry of Justice on May 27 by Tomáš Jiřikovský, a man previously convicted of drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and embezzlement. The no-confidence motion brought by Czech opposition parties ANO, SPD and the Pirates received only 94 votes, seven shy of the 101 needed to pass. The vote came after more than 24 hours of debate in Parliament, according to a report from České Noviny on Monday. Read more
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned following backlash over his ministry’s sale of Bitcoin donated by a convicted criminal. Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek has stepped down following a scandal over his ministry’s sale of nearly $45 million worth of Bitcoin donated by a convicted drug trafficker. The controversy erupted on May 28 after the ministry posted on X that it had raised close to 1 billion Czech koruna (approximately $45 million) by auctioning off nearly 500 Bitcoin (BTC). The funds were earmarked for projects such as digitizing the justice system, combating drug use in prisons, and improving housing for prison staff. Read more