German economic minister aide sacked over nepotism scandal

BERLIN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Germany's Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck on Wednesday dismissed his State Secretary Patrick Graichen amid a nepotism scandal concerning the selection of project partners and job positions.

Last year, Habeck's Green Party colleague Graichen signed off financial support for a project by Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND) in Berlin. This was a clear conflict of interests, as his sister is on the board of the NGO's state chapter.