Energy Minister Miriam Dalli has swapped places with Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar in the Council of Europe’s parliamentary assembly.

Cutajar was one of three Maltese MPs to form part of the assembly.  She is accused of breaching ethics when she derided a report by Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt, in which he had referred to Yorgen Fenech and 17 Black. The complaint came after revelations that Cutajar was involved in a failed property deal with Fenech, raising the prospect of a conflict of interest.

Minister Dalli substituted Cutajar following a motion put forward by Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne in Parliament on Monday.

Around two weeks Cutajar was given a second and final chance to appear before the Council of Europe to answer questions on alleged breach of MPs’ ethics. She has denied the claims involving her receiving money for her role as the broker in the sale of an Mdina property to Yorgen Fenech.

The Commissioner for the Standards of Public Life is still investigating the case.

Since then, Cutajar has resigned from her position as parliamentary secretary but remained as Labour MP.