Czech Government Faces No-Confidence Vote Amid Bitcoin Payment Scandal

The Czech government is set to face a no-confidence vote on Tuesday following allegations of corruption tied to a $45 million bitcoin payment accepted from an ex-convict, opposition parties announced Thursday. Despite the ruling centre-right coalition holding a parliamentary majority, the move could damage its prospects ahead of the October 3-4 general election, where the opposition currently leads.

Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned on May 31 after accepting the bitcoin payment on behalf of the state but denied any illegal conduct. Opposition groups, including the ANO party led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, have demanded Prime Minister Petr Fiala step down, calling the transaction a clear sign of corruption.

ANO vice-chair Alena Schillerova said on social media that filing the no-confidence motion was their only option. The bitcoin donation, totaling 468 bitcoins, came from a man who served prison time between 2017 and 2021 for crimes including drug trafficking, fraud, and illegal weapons possession.

Critics argue that Blazek may have inadvertently legitimized the ex-convict’s assets instead of involving law enforcement to properly secure them. Current opinion polls show Babis’s ANO party leading significantly over Fiala’s governing coalition.