There was talk of "unfortunate timing" on Wednesday in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It's the somewhat posh way of saying: The thing went stupidly. Because a week ago, Robert Habeck had stood in the committees in the Bundestag in front of Patrick Graichen, he would not dismiss the man because of a mistake. At the time, it was said from the environment of the Green Minister of Economics that no further points would emerge that would burden the powerful state secretary in the ministry.
Helene Bubrowski
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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Friederike Haupt
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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Eckart Lohse
Head of the parliamentary editorial office in Berlin.
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Markus Wehner
Political correspondent in Berlin.
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But on Wednesday morning, Habeck had to admit that things turned out differently. Graichen, who wanted to make his best man and best friend, Michael Schäfer, the head of the German Energy Agency (DENA) and did not make the close personal connection public, had done even more things that make him vulnerable. They may not be legally contestable, but they could reinforce the appearance of nepotism.
Two things had come to light: Graichen signed off on an assignment to the Berlin state association of the Federation for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation (BUND) last year, although his sister sat on the board there. And Felix Mathes, an expert at the Oeko-Institut, suggested Graichen for the Commission on Energy Transition Monitoring, even though his sister and a brother work for this renowned institute in Freiburg.
Habeck decided that he had to dismiss Graichen in order to be able to act again. On Tuesday evening, Habeck had a personal conversation with Graichen, after which it was clear that the man who had designed and driven the energy transition must go. Early Wednesday morning, Habeck informed the Chancellery.
How damaged is itself? And how does he stand in the coalition? What is certain is that he will carry the affair around with him for quite some time. After all, Graichen was not just any state secretary, but the man who was supposed to push through the most important transformation project, the farewell to fossil energy and Germany's transition to climate neutrality. Added to this was the crisis caused by Russia's war. He had "achieved superhuman things," it is said about Graichen among the Greens in the Ministry of Economics. Until late into the night, he had designed the gas and electricity price brake, saved Germany from energy collapse. Graichen, who was known for an uncompromising and gruff manner, was the doer for Habeck. His departure weakens the minister.
Polls not good
At the same time, the state secretary was the head of a homogeneous group that, after 16 years in which the Greens were not in power at the federal level, finally wanted to push through the energy transition and show how it works. To this end, the key positions, for example in DENA, should be filled with their own people. Habeck has supported this line, has replaced many department heads in the ministry himself and filled nine positions for heads of department, actually career officials, without an advertisement. On Wednesday, Habeck not only clearly distanced himself from his state secretary, but also presented himself at the press conference as an enlightener for whom the compliance rules could not be strict enough.
The past few weeks have been tough for Habeck, they have had an effect. Admittedly, his portfolio is too important and the topic of transformation too crucial for him to fear for his post. But the minister was not only subjected to a massive campaign by the opposition. Habeck suddenly became a burden for his own party.
The past few weeks have also been difficult for the Greens. In the 2021 federal election, the party won 14.8 percent of the vote – an increase of 5.9 points, but a result below its own expectations. Currently, the Greens are at 15 to 16 percent in the polls. Added to this is the disappointing result in the Bremen election. And then there is the heating law, which has caused a lot of uncertainty among the population.
Graichen as a pawn sacrifice?
Was Graichen the pawn sacrifice to get out of this low? "The decision has nothing to do with the result in Bremen," the party said. This is a Bremen matter, in the local elections in Schleswig-Holstein, the Greens had gained.