US EditionCzech President Appoints a New Justice Minister Amid a Bitcoin Scandal
- Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned in early 2025 after a controversy emerged involving a bitcoin donation worth CZK 1 billion made to the Justice Ministry by an individual with a criminal conviction.
- The donation of 468 bitcoins from Tomas Jirikovsky, a former convict, has prompted police to investigate the matter, with the High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Olomouc probing potential criminal offenses related to official misconduct and financial crimes.
- Deputy Justice Minister Karel Dvorak was reportedly aware of the offer according to an email discussed in December 2024, while political parties called for resignations and a no-confidence vote.
- On Tuesday, Prime Minister Petr Fiala named Eva Decroix to lead the Justice Ministry in an effort to rebuild public confidence and promote transparency following the controversy over the bitcoin donation.
- The scandal prompted an opposition-led no-confidence vote likely to fail but may harm the ruling coalition's standing ahead of the October 3-4 election.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Czech government installs new minister after bitcoin scandal
PRAGUE - Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala appointed a new justice minister on Tuesday to replace political veteran Pavel Blazek, who triggered a political storm when he accepted a payment to the state by an ex-convict worth $45 million in bitcoin. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Czech Government Installs New Minister After Bitcoin Scandal
A few days ago, ODS MP Eva Decroix stood in the background behind her colleagues in high positions, now her name is often mentioned because she will become Minister of Justice on Tuesday. She will replace Pavel Blažek (elected for the ODS), who resigned due to the bitcoin case. The party's vice-chairwoman, Decroix, is a lawyer, and she and her husband own a well-known bistro in the Vysočina region.
After a month of nerves, the drama surrounding the tender for the fifth and sixth Dukovany reactors has found a happy ending. On the other hand, the Czech political scene has been shaken by the bitcoin case of the now former Minister of Justice, Pavel Blažek. The new issue of the Echo Weekly, including an editorial by Dalibor Balšínek, also deals with these topics.
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