The House Business Committee will today convene to discuss setting the date for independent MP Marlene Farrugia’s proposed ‘no confidence’ motion in Minister without Portfolio Konrad Mizzi.

The motion follows one presented by the Opposition which saw the government win a majority vote in the House last month.

Once the date is set by the committee, a debate will be held followed by a vote. Dr Farrugia said she hoped the debate would be held as soon as possible “for us to be able to explain why we needed this motion and why we think that the person who will be responsible for government projects should not be there”.

She questioned why Prime Minister Joseph Muscat did not grasp the opportunity to sack Dr Mizzi, adding that a project manager did not need a place in Cabinet.

“Yes, there is a possibility that Dr Mizzi is holding Dr Muscat to ransom,” she said when asked.

She believes that the Prime Minister’s move – to retain Dr Mizzi, but relieve him of his energy and health portfolios – was “only cosmetic”.

“The Cabinet still has someone who decided to open a company in Panama soon after becoming minister and this is unacceptable. We should not stop talking about this issue before action is taken, both against Dr Mizzi as well as chief of staff Keith Schembri,” the outspoken MP had said when contacted following the reshuffle.

After an impassioned speech in Parliament, during a marathon confidence debate, Dr Farrugia had voted against the government.