Surrogacy row: Jens Spahn resigns as leader of CDU/CSU parliamentary group

Jens Spahn has stepped down as the leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, a move stemming from significant controversy surrounding his family's use of a surrogate mother in the United States. Spahn and his husband recently announced they had become parents, with a surrogate mother in the U.S. giving birth to their child. This situation has ignited criticism because surrogacy is prohibited in Germany. Adding to the controversy, Spahn himself has previously voiced opposition to legalizing surrogacy, aligning with his party's stance. The primary criticism leveled against Spahn is that he privately utilized services that he has politically denied to others in similar situations in Germany. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy and a double standard. Numerous opposition figures and organizations have strongly criticized Spahn, and critical voices have also emerged from within his own party. Former CDU Bundestag member Wolfgang Bosbach described Spahn's actions as "highly problematic," emphasizing that rules should apply universally and that the perception of exceptions for those with financial means must be avoided.

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I have informed the party leaders of CDU and CSU, Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder, that with this letter to our parliamentary group, I am resigning from my office as chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group.