The Czech opposition is calling for the resignation of the government following a major scandal involving the sale of bitcoins by the Ministry of Justice, according to news agency ČTK.
Karel Havlíček, deputy chairman of ANO, the largest opposition party, announced that his party will demand the resignation of the coalition government during a session of the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday. The demand stems from the controversial handling of digital assets by the Ministry of Justice, which received the bitcoins from a convicted criminal.
According to Havlíček, while the current government could technically remain in office until the next parliamentary elections scheduled for autumn 2025, it should refrain from making any major decisions. He added that if the government refuses to step down, ANO is seriously considering initiating a vote of no confidence.
The right-wing SPD party also expressed its support for ANO’s initiative, as confirmed by its deputy chairman Radim Fiala. Recent opinion polls show ANO holding a strong lead ahead of the upcoming elections, while support for the center-right coalition led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala has significantly declined.
The scandal erupted after it was revealed that the Ministry of Justice sold bitcoins worth nearly one billion Czech crowns. The cryptocurrency had been seized from Tomáš Jiříkovský, who was convicted of drug trafficking. Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has submitted his resignation, although he denied any wrongdoing, stating that the courts had not proven the criminal origin of the assets.
