Moldova seeks parliamentary approval for emergency powers over energy and water

Moldova's pro-European leadership intends to request that parliament approve a state of emergency covering energy and water provision, citing dangerously low water levels in the Dniester River shared with Ukraine. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan posted on social media after a Security Council meeting that the proposal will be presented on Tuesday, giving the government authority to act swiftly in the face of supply shortages.

President Maia Sandu, who led the council meeting, emphasized the urgency of adopting emergency rules, noting that while renewable sources have grown, they still lack sufficient capacity for peak consumption. The Dniester's reduced flow, agreed upon by Moldovan and Ukrainian experts to support irrigation, has been compounded by a Russian strike on a downstream hydropower facility that caused an oil spill and polluted Moldova's water systems. Officials say the emergency powers would enable rapid response to ensure electricity, heat and water for households, especially vulnerable ones.