German economy minister resigns over nepotism. On Wednesday, Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced the resignation of a top economy ministry official following a nepotism issue.
Deputy energy minister Patrick Graichen was originally criticized many weeks ago when it was revealed that he had helped hire his best man as head of the German Energy Agency without disclosing their relationship.
Habeck backed Graichen and claimed the recruitment decision was wrong, but the ministry launched an internal probe.
Opposition parties urged Graichen’s resignation due to his family’s ties to Oeko-Institut, a research organization the ministry commissions for studies and reports.
Habeck said Wednesday that government funding for Graichen’s sister’s national climate protection project violated internal compliance guidelines.
Graichen helped approve.
“People make mistakes… it was one mistake too many,” Habeck told a news conference, adding that it was a difficult decision and that a successor will be selected before the parliamentary summer recess.
Habeck said the coalition government knew of Graichen’s brother and sister’s marriage to Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Michael Kellner, who works at the institute.
Habeck and Graichen are Greens, whose poll numbers have fallen due to Germans’ concerns about the cost of their climate plans.
According to anticipated figures, Green support in Bremen plummeted by a third to 12% on Sunday compared to the 2019 election. Likewise, federal support fell to 15% from 23-24% the previous year.
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