Jens Spahn, the head of the governing conservative bloc in Germany’s federal parliament, announced his resignation on Saturday following public scrutiny over his family planning choices through surrogacy.
The decision came at the request of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), as the controversy highlighted tensions within the party regarding the practice.
While surrogacy remains legally prohibited in Germany and the CDU maintains a firm stance against its legalization, Spahn and his spouse welcomed a child through a surrogate in the United States, a move that sparked criticism among conservative lawmakers.
Spahn’s Statement
“In recent days, I have recognized that my pursuit of personal joy in building a family with my husband is incompatible with the demands of my political role,” Spahn stated in comments shared with media outlets. He emphasized, “Political credibility must remain paramount.”
Chancellor Merz publicly supported the resignation, calling it “the right course of action.”
Merz confirmed plans to collaborate with Markus Söder, head of the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), to propose a successor for the parliamentary group leadership. He noted that procedural and scheduling details would be coordinated with relevant party and parliamentary committees in due time.
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