Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala arrives for a European Council Informal Meeting at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, southern Spain on October 6, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

PRAGUE - The Czech coalition government led by Prime Minster Petr Fiala has survived a no-confidence vote in the lower house of parliament mainly over its handling of the economy and migration.

Only 85 of the 200-member Chamber of Deputies voted in favor of the no-confidence motion, 96 opposed it, and 19 were absent, the lower house said on Thursday. For the motion to pass, an absolute majority of at least 101 votes was needed.

It was the third no-confidence vote that Fiala's five-party coalition government had faced since taking office in December 2021

It was the third no-confidence vote that Fiala's five-party coalition government had faced since taking office in December 2021.

"The Chamber confirmed the will of the voters, which they expressed in the elections, and confirmed the confidence of the members of parliament in my government," Fiala said on social media following the vote.

ALSO READ: Czechs rally in Prague to protest against govt

The parliamentary debate, which began on Tuesday, lasted over 30 hours. The main opposition party Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis blamed the government over its handling of inflation, energy prices, migration and security, while the junior opposition party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) said that the government broke many election promises, including not raising taxes, local media reported.

"We won't give up. We will continue to fight hard for the interests of the citizens of the Czech Republic," Babis said on social media platform X.

The Chamber of Deputies last week approved the government's draft consolidation package aimed at reducing the state budget deficit by cutting back state subsidies and hiking taxes on alcohol, real estate and corporate income. The opposition parties had criticized the package, arguing that the tax increases would drive up inflation and weaken economic performance.

READ MORE: Czech Republic raises defense spending to at least 2% of GDP

Earlier this month, the Czech Republic introduced checks at its border with Slovakia to stem rising illegal migration.