Moldovan govt seeking another 60-day extension of state of emergency
CHISINAU. March 29 (Interfax) - The Moldovan government will ask the parliament on Thursday to extend the state of emergency in the country for another 60 days starting April 5.
The government came to such a decision on Wednesday at the recommendation of the National Commission for Emergency Situations.
The situation in Ukraine and related risks have been cited as the main reason for prolonging the state of emergency. The government said at its meeting that these are both threats to national security and the situation in the energy sector, as there is a risk that Russian gas company Gazprom could unilaterally sever the contract on gas supplies due to failure to meet the Moldovagaz audit deadline.
"I know that society is weary and skeptical to a certain extent with regard to the decisions to prolong the state of emergency. But the government needs instruments for swift and resolute interventions in issues such as maintaining peace, the stability of the energy sector, where numerous questions are still present. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure public order," Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean said.
A separate point of the provision on extending the state of emergency says that the state of emergency will in no way impact the elections of the head of Gagauzia on April 30.
Moldova imposed a state of emergency on February 24, 2022 and has repeatedly extended it for 60 days, and once for 45 days, since then. The last time it made this decision was in early February, and the current state of emergency expires on April 4.
The decision to declare a state of emergency on February 24 of last year was supported unanimously by all parliamentary factions. However, only the faction of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity backed the decisions to extend the state of emergency during subsequent votes on this issue, while the opposition believes that the state of emergency is not necessary. In particular, the Party of Socialists contested the parliamentary majority's decision at the Constitutional Court, but its motions were dismissed.