Hungary bought Telecom Albania from Bulgarian companies, BGNES reported.
Bulgarian companies bought the Albanian one for 50 million euros, and then resold it at a very high profit to their Hungarian competitor. People in the know mention an amount between 120-150 million euros, i.e. almost three times more expensive.
Hungary's entry into the Balkan telecommunications market raises many questions about what Budapest's geostrategic plans are for the entire region. Hungarian companies are strengthening their presence in the economies of the Western Balkan countries, thereby building a network of political influence.
"Their ambition is much bigger and much wider - and that is to expand their influence through the media network and through telecommunications, which today is one of the most important infrastructures in any country... This is how Viktor Orbán is expanding his influence," he warned in front of N1 Marko Milosavljevic, professor at the University of Ljubljana.
As influence spreads, so do the values that go along with Viktor Orbán's policies. For this, according to Marko Milosavljevic, telecommunication operators are very useful, through which influence can be exerted both on the media and on the political agenda in a country. "Telecoms are very strong and are one of the most important advertisers in any country, including Slovenia or Serbia. They can simply give money to media outlets that are friendly, that are in line with their personal or political interests, or block any that are not under their control,” he added.
Hungary has doubled its investments in Albania, it also has influence in Bulgaria and Slovenia. The connections with the state leadership in Serbia are not hidden either. Leaders with little interest in substantive democracy are ideal allies for Orbán in his mission to make Hungary a key player in central Europe, experts warn. /BGNES
