DistantNews
Support us
German Politician Jens Spahn Faces Criticism Over Use of U.S. Surrogate Mother
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

German Politician Jens Spahn Faces Criticism Over Use of U.S. Surrogate Mother

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • German politician Jens Spahn is facing criticism from the Green, Left, and FDP parties for using a surrogate mother in the U.S. to have a child, a practice forbidden in Germany.
  • Critics question Spahn's credibility and point to alleged double standards, as he has previously opposed the liberalization of surrogacy laws in Germany.
  • Spahn, the parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU, and his husband had their son via a surrogate in the United States, while German law prohibits surrogacy and the governing coalition has no plans to change this.

Jens Spahn, the parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU bloc in Germany, is under fire from opposition parties following the announcement that he and his husband became fathers through a surrogate mother in the United States. The practice of surrogacy is illegal in Germany, leading to accusations of hypocrisy and double standards from the Green, Left, and FDP parties.

Criticism of Jens Spahn continues after his family grows through surrogacy.

— Die ZeitHeadline summarizing the ongoing controversy.

Politicians from these parties are questioning Spahn's credibility, highlighting his past opposition to liberalizing surrogacy laws in Germany. Janosch Dahmen, the Green Party's health policy spokesperson, criticized politicians who "vehemently reject any liberalization of legal frameworks for surrogacy here, but then use precisely these abroad." Dahmen stated that while he personally finds surrogacy problematic due to ethical concerns about exploitation and commercialization, his criticism is focused on "political credibility and double standards." He argued that politicians advocating for certain rules should explain why they do not apply to themselves.

This criticism is particularly sharp given Spahn's previous public statements. In 2015, as the CDU's health spokesperson, he told GQ magazine that as a gay man and a Christian, he found the idea of a "rented womb" difficult to accept. As Federal Health Minister in 2019, he also opposed relaxing the ban on surrogacy.

politicians who 'vehemently reject any liberalization of legal frameworks for surrogacy here, but then use precisely these abroad.'

— Janosch DahmenGreen Party health policy spokesperson, criticizing politicians for perceived double standards.

The German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs has reiterated that surrogacy remains illegal in Germany, with no plans within the current coalition agreement to change the law. The CDU party itself also reaffirmed its commitment to the ban on surrogacy at its federal party conference in February. Kathrin Gebel, the women's policy spokesperson for the Left Party in the Bundestag, also addressed the issue, further amplifying the criticism against Spahn.

As a gay man and a Christian, I can personally only come to terms with the idea of a rented womb with great difficulty.

— Jens SpahnHis past statement to GQ magazine in 2015 regarding surrogacy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog