Jens Spahn, a 46-year-old German politician from the centre-right, has resigned from his role as parliamentary group leader for his governing coalition. This decision follows significant criticism regarding his choice to use a surrogate mother in the United States to start a family with his husband, Daniel Funke.
While surrogacy is illegal in Germany under the 1990 Embryo Protection Act, individuals are not prohibited from raising children born to surrogates in other countries. Spahn previously supported his party’s stance against legalizing the practice, leading to accusations of double standards. Critics specifically highlighted his past opposition to loosening surrogacy restrictions during his tenure as health minister in 2020.
In a resignation statement, Spahn explained that the personal joy of fatherhood had become incompatible with the pressures of his political responsibilities. He noted that the intensity of public scrutiny and the clash between his private choices and professional expectations made his position untenable. Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, described the resignation as an unavoidable step to maintain political credibility.
Alexander Hoffmann of the Christian Social Union is expected to manage Spahn’s duties temporarily. The situation has reignited national debates regarding surrogacy laws, which remain a point of legal and ethical contention across several European nations.
