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Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government coalition is in big trouble, with the country’s general election less than four months away. On Tuesday, his government will face a vote of no-confidence following a scandal involving bitcoin and a (now former) justice minister accepting a donation from a criminal. Could Fiala’s coalition be toppled, though, and what would happen after?
How we got here
In March, the Czech Justice Ministry accepted a donation of 468 bitcoins—worth nearly CZK 1 billion—from convicted drug trafficker Tomáš Jiřikovský. After his release, Jiřikovský regained access to confiscated electronics and offered 30 percent of a crypto wallet in exchange for help opening it. Then-Minister Pavel Blažek agreed.
Critics argue the deal legitimized criminal proceeds, bypassed legal oversight, and damaged public trust, despite being technically legal. The controversial agreement surfaced publicly in late May.
What should we expect?
The Chamber of Deputies (the Czech lower house of parliament) will tomorrow vote on whether the current government should step down. To topple the cabinet, at least 101 of the 200 total members of parliament (MPs) must vote in favor of the motion.
However, the government has currently has a very fragile majority—just 104 coalition MPs out of 200.
Coalition leaders expressed confidence in maintaining support. Marek Benda, head of the Civic Democratic Party parliamentary faction, said enough coalition deputies would be present to secure a vote of confidence. Danuše Nerudová of the coalition STAN group said the party would not back the no-confidence motion, but called for legal reforms to prevent future incidents.
Fiala told Czech media this weekend he was confidence his government would survive.
What happens if the no-confidence vote succeeds?
If the government loses the vote, Czech constitutional law requires its immediate resignation, triggering a caretaker phase in which Fiala’s cabinet continues only in a limited capacity until a new administration is formed.
President Petr Pavel would then appoint a new prime minister, who must secure confidence from at least 101 deputies. If this appointee fails, the president gets a second chance, followed by a parliamentary speaker-nominated candidate.
Should a third attempt also fail, the president is empowered to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies and call snap elections, typically to be held within 60 days.
Tuesday’s vote marks the fourth no-confidence attempt against Fiala’s government since 2022.
