Moldovan parliament speaker explains need for state of emergency

Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu has explained the need to declare a state of emergency in the energy and hydrological sectors by the need for the government to be able to intervene quickly in the event of unpredictable developments on the energy market, supply problems or a worsening hydrological situation. The speaker made statements to this effect ahead of the plenary meeting today, during which the parliament is examining the government’s request.

According to Igor Grosu, the state of emergency will allow the authorities to respond more quickly to potential problems involving the supply of water, electricity natural gas or fuel.

“There is a provision requiring the Government, within no more than 72 hours, to inform parliament about any purchases it makes to ensure supplies of water, electricity, gas, fuel and so on. So, there are all necessary instruments on both sides: for the government to act and for parliament to monitor and exercise parliamentary oversight,” Grosu noted.

The parliament speaker said that the measure was also necessary, given the volatility of energy prices and resource availability, as well as the worrying water level in the Dniester. The state of emergency regime also gives the government the possibility to intervene more quickly through fiscal measures, depending on developments in fuel, gas and electricity prices.

“The government receives this instrument to intervene through excise duties or value added tax (VAT) when it considers that upward price fluctuations require it. (...) Outside a state of emergency, it would have to initiate a draft amendment to the budgetary and fiscal policy, consult it with all ministries, send it to parliament, and then we would have to conduct another consultation process and put it to a vote a month later. So, the train is leaving,” Grosu explained.

Another example cited by the parliament speaker concerns the fee for establishing emergency stocks of oil products. Grosu said that, once the state of emergency expires, this fee would be reflected in the price of a liter of gasoline and diesel, while declaring a state of emergency would allow the authorities to intervene, so that this cost is not immediately passed on to consumers.

Igor Grosu also emphasized that, under the state of emergency regime, decisions issued by the government or the Commission for Emergency Situations become mandatory for the operators concerned.

“Decisions in a state of emergency are mandatory. (...) You cannot disconnect supplies. (...) The two operators—the one in the north and the central-southern one—are required to ensure electricity supplies at specified voltages. They are required to ensure the water supply as well,” the parliament speaker said.

The parliament is examining today, in an extraordinary meeting, the government’s request to declare a state of emergency in the energy and hydrological sectors. The measure is proposed amid risks concerning the supply of energy resources and the decline in the Dniester’s flow rate.

The situation on the international energy market, regional vulnerabilities, Moldova’s preparations for the 2026–2027 cold season and the measures needed to ensure the country’s uninterrupted supply of energy resources were examined at a September 21 meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), chaired by President Maia Sandu.