In 2023, Patrick Graichen was state secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. He and two other members of a selection committee voted for Michael Schäfer to lead the German Energy Agency. Schäfer was Graichen’s friend from school and the best man at his wedding. Germans called it the Trauzeugenaffäre, the best man affair. Minister Robert Habeck first defended his state secretary. After a further breach came to light, Habeck called it der eine Fehler zu viel, the one mistake too many. Graichen was sent into temporary retirement.