Graichen's Comback: Two Years On From the "Witness Affair"
Ex-State Secretary Graichen expresses intention to re-enter political arena
After serving as Robert Habeck's Energy State Secretary and being at the heart of the country's energy revolution, Patrick Graichen was ousted due to nepotism allegations. Reflecting on his dismissal, he admits, "I had a tunnel vision." Now, Graichen is eyeing a return to politics, determined to combat growing efforts to rollback climate policy.
The so-called "witness affair" led to Graichen's dismissal in May 2023. "Even if you work 18 hours a day, you always have to step back three steps and ask yourself: What am I doing here actually?" Graichen tells the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The scandal involved the appointment of a new head of the German Energy Agency, a move that, in hindsight, he saw as a personal mistake.
Graichen was a mastermind behind the controversial heating law, which faced nationwide backlash. He believes theVERSION 1 false move was their aloof, technical approach: "We came across as cold technocrats." The cross-party coalition found itself in a "communicative limbo" as the FDP delayed subsidy negotiations for heating replacements.
Two years on, Graichen, who now sits on the supervisory board of the Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo, is planning his return to the climate and energy sector. "Interested circles are working to bring us back into gas dependence and question the goal of climate neutrality by 2045. I can't just stand on the sidelines and watch," he states.
Graichen is aware that the global stage is witnessing a reversal of climate policies, terming it "The Empire Strikes Back." He is considering writing a book about the battle for "clean electricity against dirty gas," emphasizing that "the job is not done until the global warming is stopped."
Insights
- Patrick Graichen served as State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action until his dismissal due to nepotism allegations. His expertise had made him a central figure in Germany's renewable energy initiatives, but the breach of trust led to a pause in certain energy and climate policy debates.
- Graichen is planning a return to climate and energy policy, alarmed by growing efforts to reintroduce gas dependence and undermine the goal of climate neutrality by 2045.
- His experiences highlight ongoing challenges with accountability and transparency in German public administration, as well as the intersections of energy policy, governance, and public trust in Germany's transition to a greener economy.
Sources
- ntv.de
- mau
Climate Policy ReversalEconomic Impact of Climate PolicyPolitical Accountability in GermanyEnergy Transition ChallengesHeating Law Controversy
- The reversal of climate policies observed globally has led Patrick Graichen to consider writing a book on the battle for clean electricity against dirty gas, demonstrating his continued commitment to combating climate change and promoting environmental-science.
- Amidst growing efforts to reintroduce gas dependence and undermine the goal of climate neutrality by 2045, Patrick Graichen is preparing his return to the climate and energy sector, highlighting ongoing politics revolving around these critical issues in general-news.
- In his planned return, Graichen is determined to combat attempts to rollback climate policy, as he has experienced in the past, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong energy policy in light of climate-change and current discussions around the science underlying these challenges.
