The Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (LDPM) says that the introduction of a new state of heightened preparedness in the energy sector demonstrates the PAS government’s inability to effectively manage risks and implement preventive public policies.

LDPM also criticized what it called the authorities’ “alarmist rhetoric,” claiming that society is being presented with a permanent state of crisis while the government repeatedly positions itself as the “saviour” responding to emergencies.

According to LDPM, the current disruptions in fuel supplies were foreseeable. The party noted that strikes on oil infrastructure in the Novorossiysk port area negatively affected exports of Kazakh oil — a key raw material source for Romania’s Petromidia refinery, which is one of the main suppliers of petroleum products to the Moldovan market.

The party argues that these risks were known in advance and could have been addressed in a timely manner. LDPM says the government should have increased strategic reserves, secured additional supply contracts, and diversified supply sources beforehand.

The party also noted that the recent decline in global oil prices created a favourable opportunity to replenish reserves under better market conditions.

“Authorities were aware of the vulnerability of regional logistics chains and the consequences of the energy crisis that emerged in the spring. Nevertheless, state institutions reacted only after shortages had already appeared, when many fuel stations were facing diesel shortages,” LDPM stated.

The party argues that a foreseeable external risk was transformed into a domestic supply crisis due to the lack of timely decisions.

LDPM says the current authorities have turned crisis management and repeated declarations of heightened preparedness into a regular model of governance. According to the party, instead of preventing problems, state institutions act only after they occur, while government effectiveness is measured by reactions to crises rather than by the ability to prevent them.

The party also criticized the postponement of the mandatory 48 bani per litre fuel contribution, calling it evidence of an improvised and inconsistent energy policy. According to LDPM, the state failed to create the necessary reserves in advance, then attempted to shift the costs onto consumers, and is now forced to suspend the measure to avoid further price increases.

LDPM is demanding:

• a permanent end to the practice of shifting the costs of creating strategic reserves onto consumers, along with an alternative financing mechanism, including through already collected excise duties and other taxes on petroleum products;
• public disclosure of information regarding the actual need for strategic reserves, the cost of creating them, the accumulation schedule, funding sources, and management and oversight mechanisms;
• a reduction of the tax burden on consumers through lower excise duties and VAT rates on fuel, so that the state mitigates the impact of the crisis on households and the economy rather than increasing it.

The party also reiterated the need to introduce a genuine system of ministerial accountability — an initiative it says has been promoted by LDPM but rejected by PAS.

“If a minister has access to all necessary information, has the authority and tools to prevent a crisis, but fails to take timely action, while citizens and the economy bear the consequences of that inaction, such responsibility cannot remain merely declarative,” LDPM stated.

According to the party, without personal accountability for the results of public administration, Moldova will continue to face improvised decisions, delayed government responses, and the transfer of the consequences of policy failures onto citizens.