Steven N.
The back and forth between the government and entrepreneur László Bige continued with a video posted on social media by Minister of Agriculture István Nagy (pictured).
According to István Nagy, “the left-wing billionaire makes Hungarian agriculture impossible” by keeping the price of fertilizer artificially high through his company Nitrogénművek Zrt.
“For the past seven years, the major businessman has harmed not only Hungarian farmers, but all Hungarian consumers of bread, fruit, and vegetables,” said the minister.
Nitrogénművek Zrt. announced on Friday that the National Chamber of Agriculture had suggested the possibility of the state taking over the operation of its fertilizer plant at a meeting to which the company’s representatives had not been invited.
The President of the National Chamber of Agriculture said that farmers expect Hungarian fertilizers to remain within the country. “If the owner of Nitrogénművek Zrt., Mr. László Bige, continues in this way (with exporting fertilizer and increasing prices), more serious state intervention may be needed.” Nitrogénművek has claimed that it continues to sell fertilizers to Hungarian farmers at standard Central European market prices.
The Hungarian Competition Authority (GVH) recently imposed a fine totaling 11.5 billion Ft. (US $35.2 million) on Bige’s financial interests.
[HVG]
