The Czech government narrowly escapes a vote of no confidence due to a Bitcoin scandal!
The center-right government in the Czech Republic narrowly survived a no-confidence vote after a major controversy arose over accepting a payment of $45 million in Bitcoin from a former prisoner!
Details of the scandal that nearly toppled the government:
• The opposition ANO party, leading in opinion polls ahead of the elections, called for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Petr Fiala's government.
• Allegation: Assisting a former criminal in legitimizing his illegal Bitcoin holdings.
• Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned after accepting the payment on behalf of the state, despite denying any wrongdoing.
• Fiala described accepting the gift as a "political and moral mistake".
The former prisoner and the mysterious gift:
• The prisoner donated 468 Bitcoin to the state.
• He was imprisoned on charges related to drug trafficking, fraud, and possession of weapons.
• The gift represented 30% of the Bitcoin he recovered from a wallet on computers.
• The former prisoner's motive for donating remains unclear.
Final outcome:
• The no-confidence motion failed in the House of Representatives.
• Fiala's ruling coalition holds a majority.