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German CDU leader Spahn faces backlash over surrogate child, defying party ban

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • German CDU leader Jens Spahn faces criticism for using a surrogate mother in the US to have a child, despite his party's long-standing opposition to surrogacy.
  • Spahn and his husband had a child via a US surrogate, which is illegal in Germany. His party, the CDU, has consistently argued against surrogacy due to ethical and legal concerns.
  • Opposition politicians and some within his own party are calling for Spahn's resignation, accusing him of hypocrisy and deliberately breaking German law.

Jens Spahn, a prominent figure in Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU), is facing intense backlash after it emerged he and his husband, Daniel Funke, became parents through a surrogate mother in the United States. This development is particularly contentious because surrogacy is illegal in Germany, a ban that Spahn and his party have long championed.

My husband became a father and I with him. Georg is our greatest happiness.

— Jens SpahnSpahn's announcement of his child's birth, as reported by German magazine 'Bild'.

The couple's son was born via an American surrogate, a move that circumvents German law. Spahn, who has previously served as Germany's Health Minister, and his party have consistently voiced strong opposition to surrogacy, deeming it ethically problematic and a potential source of exploitation. The CDU reaffirmed its stance as recently as February, stating that surrogacy, even altruistic forms, must remain prohibited in Germany due to "ethical, legal and practical concerns."

We are family.

— Daniel FunkeFunke's social media post accompanying a photo of the couple with a baby carriage.

Critics argue that Spahn is hypocritical for benefiting from a practice his party actively opposes. "Any politician who defends rules must clearly explain why they apparently do not apply to himself," stated Janosch Dahmen, health policy spokesperson for the Green Party. Hubert Hüppe, chairman of the CDU's senior citizens' wing, told Focus magazine, "Surrogacy is rightly banned in Germany. It is not right that politicians use their power and money to circumvent that ban."

Any politician who defends rules must clearly explain why they apparently do not apply to himself.

— Janosch DahmenSpokesperson for health policy for the Green Party, criticizing Spahn.

Regional CDU official Daniel Peters called for Spahn's resignation, stating, "Spahn must resign because he deliberately violated German law." Criticism has also surfaced from within the governing coalition, with Carmen Wegge of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) noting, "Those who can afford it financially opt for a surrogate mother abroad."

Surrogacy is rightly banned in Germany. It is not right that politicians use their power and money to circumvent that ban.

— Hubert HüppeChairman of the senior citizens' wing of the CDU, commenting on the situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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