BERLIN — German Economy Minister Robert Habeck Wednesday announced he will put into “temporary retirement” a top-level state secretary dogged by accusations of cronyism.
The decision comes after internal audits showed Patrick Graichen, the state secretary who played a key role in orchestrating Germany’s green transition, gave preliminary approval in November to a €600,000 project drafted by the regional Berlin office of the NGO BUND, where his sister is an active board member.
“According to the compliance rules, Patrick Graichen should neither have been presented with this draft [proposal from BUND] nor should he have signed it off,” Habeck told a press conference. “It is one mistake too many.”
The Green vice chancellor had come under intense pressure — from members of the opposition and from within his ruling coalition — to dismiss Graichen after it emerged he failed to disclose his personal relationship with the candidate chosen to lead Germany’s energy agency Dena, despite being a part of the selection committee.
The decision to remove Graichen was “tough,” Habeck said, adding that the ministry will start the search for a replacement.
He clarified that Graichen had approved the NGO project as eligible for funding, but that it had not yet received any state cash.
In Germany, political officials can be temporarily retired without giving a reason and receive a pension; they can be appointed to a new civil service position at any time.
“This step was overdue. Because the accusations against his [Habeck’s] closest confidant weigh heavily,” Mario Czaja, the center-right CDU’s secretary general, tweeted Wednesday.
