Czech Gov’t Survives No-Confidence Vote Over $45M Bitcoin Scandal
Czech Gov’t Survives No-Confidence Vote Over $45M Bitcoin Scandal
The Czech government has survived its fourth no-confidence vote in three years. This time, the scandal centered on a $45 million Bitcoin donation from a convicted criminal.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Civic Democratic Party held its position after a vote led by opposition parties ANO, SPD, and the Pirates. The motion received 94 votes, which was seven short of the 101 needed to pass, according to České Noviny.
The controversy involves Tomáš Jiřikovský, who donated 1,561 Bitcoin (worth approximately $45 million) to the Ministry of Justice on May 27. Jiřikovský has a criminal record that includes drug trafficking, weapons violations, and embezzlement.
PM Fiala Admits Mistakes Were Made
Fiala acknowledged that the donation “should never have been accepted.” As a result, he admitted the incident had shaken public trust in his party.
“We take responsibility for the ethical misconduct,” Fiala said. However, he also claimed the opposition was using the scandal for political gain.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he argued they were trying to “throw dirt, insults, and lies” at his party.
Justice Minister Resigns, Successor Launches Probe
The scandal led to the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blažek on May 30. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura also faces criticism for allegedly knowing about the donation in advance.
On June 10, President Petr Pavel appointed Eva Decroix as the new justice minister. Consequently, she promised a full investigation into how the donation was handled.
“The Ministry of Justice under my leadership will cooperate fully in the investigation,” Decroix said.
Details of the Bitcoin Donation
Jiřikovský donated part of his crypto holdings after a court returned access to his seized devices. According to officials, the donation was legal under a court ruling, though its ethics are now being questioned.
He handed over 1,561 Bitcoin. However, a larger wallet with 3,855 Bitcoin, tied to the dark web site Nucleus Market, remains locked.
In addition, tech expert Jiří Berger, who helped access the first wallet, said the larger stash is stored on outdated technology and can’t be recovered yet.
Crypto and Politics Collide Globally
The Czech scandal reflects broader global concerns about political figures engaging with crypto.
- For example, Donald Trump has profited from crypto ventures while campaigning for reelection.
- Similarly, Argentina’s President Javier Milei was recently linked to the failed Libra token project.
