Speaking Out for the First Time: Former Energy State Secretary Graichen, Two Years After His Dismissal, Eyes Return to Politics
Former state secretary Graichen, previously associated with Habeck, expresses interest in re-entering politics.
In the heat of political turbulence as the mastermind behind the Heating Law, Patrick Graichen found himself at the center of a storm. A cloud of suspicion hovered over him due to allegations of nepotism, later dubbed the "witness affair." In hindsight, the zealous villain of all fossil energy carriers confesses to his own blindness. Now, he aims for a political resurgence.
Two years following his dismissal in May 2023, the ex-energy state secretary publicly addresses the "witness affair" that precipitated his departure. "With hindsight, I would say: Even if you work 18 hours a day, always step back, and question your actions," Graichen stated in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung.
At the time of his dismissal, Graichen was embroiled in the appointment of a new head of the German Energy Agency. It later came to light that the candidate was his witness. "That was my personal mistake," Graichen now admits. Fueled by the suspicion of nepotism and escalating political pressure, Gabriel Habeck, the green federal minister of economics, ultimately dismissed him. "Ultimately, the objective was to topple Robert Habeck or at least severely weaken him," Graichen stated to the SZ in retrospect.
Initially, Graichen was seen as the mind behind the infamous Heating Law, whose early draft triggered nationwide uproar. While the traffic light was negotiating funding programs for heating replacement, Graichen claimed he was betrayed. "The overarching blunder was undoubtedly presenting ourselves as cold technocrats," Graichen reveals to the newspaper.
During the negotiations over these times, the FDP created a communication stalemate, delaying the funding. Nevertheless, Graichen has moved past these days, attributing his recovery to his family. "The sleepless nights are likely a thing of the past."
Itching for a Comeback in Climate and Energy Policy
Currently, Graichen is amassing a comeback in climate and energy policy. "Climate and energy policy is under attack by vested interests striving to drag us back into gas dependency and questioning the feasibility of climate neutrality by 2045," Graichen told the SZ. He sees parallels with "The Empire Strikes Back," a phrase popularized from a Star Wars movie [1][5].
For two years, Graichen has kept a low profile since his dismissal. These days, he serves on the supervisory board of the Ukrainian power grid operator Ukrenergo and is contemplating authoring a book. "My book will focus on clean electricity battling against dirty gas," Graichen hinted. The ultimate objective, according to Graichen, will only be achieved when global warming ceases.
Reference:- [1] "Habeck to Teach at US Elite University," ntv.de, Accessed 3/17/20- [5] "Return of the Sith: Graichen's Warning for Climate and Energy Policy," Süddeutsche Zeitung, Accessed 3/17/20
- Heating Law
- Gas
- Robert Habeck
- Graichen, in his interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, spoke about the current political climate in climate and energy policy, likening the resistance to clean energy to the theme from the Star Wars movie, "The Empire Strikes Back."
- As he contemplates a return to politics, Graichen has been focusing on the environmental science aspect of climate change, intending to write a book about clean electricity and its fight against gas dependency.
- In the aftermath of the controversial Heating Law, Graichen acknowledges the importance of community policy and environmental-science in crafting energy policies that mitigate climate-change, hoping to prevent similar controversies in the future.
