Robert Habeck would like to be a politician of a new type, one who admits mistakes, as he says. In his usual thoughtful way and appropriately contrite in view of the political damage, the Minister of Economics of the Greens is showing himself to be in the "best man affair" surrounding his state secretary Patrick Graichen.
His decision to have participated in the appointment of a friend and best man as the new head of the state energy agency Dena was a mistake. A mistake that has been named and is now being corrected with a new job advertisement, Habeck praises himself effusively for his hesitant actions in the crisis he has caused himself. Olaf Scholz is not quite so enthusiastic about the Vice-Chancellor's crisis management.
The fact that he intervened in Habeck's house from his trip to Africa with a smug reference to the future observance of rules shows the chancellor's anger. However, Habeck is steadfastly sticking to Graichen himself, who is part of a green family network in and around the ministry. Come what may – possibly even a parliamentary committee of inquiry, which politicians of the Union bring into play with relish.
Greens threatened with election defeat in Bremen
Habeck apparently considers his most important employee in the project of the century, the energy transition, to be irreplaceable. Without Graichen, his boss praises his merits, there would have been an energy emergency in Germany last winter with empty gas storage facilities. But the unconditional adherence to Graichen is a mistake that costs Habeck further credibility.
He won't be able to get rid of the accusation of nepotism and green felt anytime soon. This is ensured not only by the opposition, but also by the traffic light partner FDP. For his party, the decline could continue because of the affair. As early as next Sunday, the Greens in Bremen are threatened with a severe defeat in the state elections. It would also be a crash for Habeck.