Babiš calls for government to resign over bitcoin scandal, opposition targets finance minister

Opposition leader Andrej Babiš has urged Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government to resign over an escalating scandal involving a controversial bitcoin donation to the Ministry of Justice. Babiš linked the case to international money laundering and said it had “completely destroyed” Czechia’s reputation abroad.

Speaking before Thursday’s extraordinary session of the lower house, Babiš accused the government of allowing organized crime to reach the highest levels of power. He also criticized the use of the State Security Council to address the matter, calling it a misuse of authority.

The Pirate Party echoed the criticism, dismissing the government’s claim that the issue was a one-off failure. Party chair Zdeněk Hřib called it the “tip of the iceberg” and launched a petition demanding the resignation of Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura.

The far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party has also said it will call for the entire cabinet to step down during the session.