Robert Habeck is parting ways with his most important state secretary. But the Greens are still under pressure – at least four points speak for this.
Berlin/Munich – Robert Habeck has pulled the ripcord after all: his controversial state secretary Patrick Graichen must go. After weeks of "felt" accusations, the Green Vice-Chancellor is now hoping for a political liberation – even if another "mistake" by Graichen was the official reason for the separation.
Habeck dismisses State Secretary: Is the Graichen end too late?
But things could turn out differently: The Union has already added in the hours after the Graichen exit – and demanded both further clarification in Habeck's Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as the end of the heating law. The opposition does not want to let Habeck off the hook. And maybe even work towards his resignation. Extremist forces could also free ride away from parliament.
There is also the threat of trouble from another direction: For many Greens, eco-associations and also parts of the economy, Graichen was a key figure in the energy transition. The fact that Habeck has given in to the pressure could offend many. And perhaps also cause very practical problems in the ministry. Four reasons why the crisis is far from over for Habeck, the Greens and the Ministry of Economic Affairs:
1. Too late, too little? Habeck will continue to be under pressure
Time and again, the Greens show problems in dealing with mistakes: In the whirlwind surrounding Annalena Baerbock's failed book attempt in the 2021 election campaign, for example, they initially simply referred to a "character assassination". It was only later that the mistake was admitted. Green Environment Minister Anne Spiegel also left only at the second attempt – but then abruptly. In the Graichen case, there are arguments to see the situation differently (see info box below) – but the procedure ultimately has a similar effect. As recently as May 11, Habeck said he was not prepared to "sacrifice people" because of an opposition campaign. Previously, he and Graichen had already admitted "mistakes". Without personnel consequences.
Incidentally, Michael Kellner, who had countered the accusations against Baerbock with the "character assassination" accusation, is now Parliamentary State Secretary in Habeck's Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The CSU now wants to continue exerting pressure. "The felt scandal in the environment of Robert Habeck" was "far from being dealt with," said state group leader Alexander Dobrindt. Findings about "family ties" and "cronyism" made a committee of inquiry more likely. Next Wednesday, the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag wants to question Habeck and actually Graichen again in a meeting of the committees on economics and climate protection/energy. In addition, the Ministry of Economics is conducting a "civil service examination" against Graichen. It could also make waves again if it is completed.
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But that's not all: Some observers even suspected an anti-climate network behind the major attack on the heating project, as FR.de reported. Habeck also complained in the ARD "Tagesthemen". On Wednesday, he complained that lies had been spread about Graichen by "sometimes right-wing extremist accounts" and "pushed further by pro-Russian accounts." Research by the dpa confirmed this – for example, in the case of the false allegation that Graichen was married to a board member of the Uniper Group, which has been nationalized in Germany. This, too, suggests that the vortex will not subside. With the zigzag course, Habeck could have involuntarily supplied ammunition not only to the opposition, but also to trolls.
Habeck rebuilds: Why did Graichen have to go?
The reason for Graichen's planned dismissal were new findings from internal audits, Habeck said on Wednesday. It was not about the long-debated personnel of Michael Schäfer. Rather, the background is the planned financial support of a project of the BUND regional association in Berlin, on whose board Graichen's sister, Verena Graichen, sits. The process should not have been presented to Graichen, nor should he have signed it. It is a compliance violation, i.e. a violation of internal rules of conduct. (AFP)
2. "Vacuum" in Habeck's energy transition plans? With Graichen, a key figure is lost
But it is not only the opposition that is exerting pressure. There are also concerns in the economy. The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) complained that the German government was losing "a proven and internationally highly recognized energy transition expert" with Graichen. Graichen was considered the architect of the Heating Act – and is also likely to have been planned as a puppet master in the mammoth energy transition project. If you believe the assessments of the Greens, there is "no other person in the whole country who could do the job anywhere near as well as he does," wrote the taz.
Robert Habeck (Greens) is in the crossfire - an end is probably not in sight. © Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
The "job" is a key project for the Greens. Should the climate-friendly restructuring of the economy now come to a standstill, resentment is likely to stir in the camp of their sympathizers – they are now likely to be additionally sensitized. Whoever succeeds is therefore under observation – but also under pressure from other sides. The opposition within the coalition pointed the finger directly at the Ministry of Economic Affairs: FDP MP Michael Kruse warned of a "power vacuum". This is exactly what the opponents of the Greens' plans are likely to hope for.
3. Permanent problem heating law: Opponents make front after Habeck decision
Because with Graichen's departure, the grumbling about the heating law is far from silent. Presumably, it won't be so fast: the CDU and CSU have identified an open flank – and they, like the FDP, are not letting up. Habeck should "now stop the law completely," demanded CDU MP Carsten Linnemann at the Bavarian media group.
Linnemann's party colleague and member of the European Parliament, Peter Liese, indirectly linked the Graichen case and the Heating Act. Graichen had "made a serious mistake in the selection of the Dena boss and the Building Energy Act, for which he is responsible, does more harm than good to climate protection," he stressed. In any case, a substantive CDU campaign against the law is already underway. FDP politician Kruse also pushed for changes after Graichen's departure: He demanded a "new, realistic timetable".
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr has already had to be embarrassingly cross-examined by Markus Lanz, who is actually considered critical of the Greens, for the FDP's presentation of the legislative plans. But regardless of the initially dry question of whether the law is socially acceptable, Habeck will have to work even harder in addition to his day-to-day tasks: The Greens are apparently not getting through with their arguments.
4. Habeck faces succession dilemma? We are looking for an expert - without ties to the eco-scene
Who will succeed Graichen remained unclear on Wednesday. Habeck only stated that he wanted to fill the post quickly. But the personnel could be the next dilemma. Observers recently pointed out that the ranks of energy and energy transition experts in Germany are not too large – they have known each other, in some cases for decades. However, Habeck is likely to need an expert in the office. A German one at that. Colleague Annalena Baerbock even has a naturalized expert in her state secretary ranks. But that is unlikely to work out for Habeck in terms of time, nor will it bring calm to the debate.
The stumbling Minister of Economic Affairs almost has to find the jack-of-all-trades: a person with climate and energy transition expertise – without a large network in the ecological sector. Anything else would either be a setback for his great restructuring ambitions. Or a found food for the opposition. In a touch of gallows humor, Habeck assured: "I will not appoint my best man as state secretary now."
After all, on the day of Graichen's departure, there was also encouragement for the Greens – from the structurally conservative Lower Bavaria, of all places. The Graichen case could also be "an opportunity for more realism and pragmatism," commented the Straubinger Tagblatt. So far, the Greens have rather exuded "the cold whiff of technocrats". However, Habeck may have already found his new man for the energy transition: According to a report in Bild, the head of the Federal Network Agency, Klaus Müller, could take over the post. He is a Green politician – which could again provide fodder for felt allegations. Müller has also made a name for himself as Minister of the Environment in Schleswig-Holstein, consumer advocate and problem manager in the gas crisis. (fn
)Green problems not only in the federal government: After the Bremen election, the Greens in the city-state slip into a crisis.
