In Germany, CDU's Jens Spahn Resigned Following Allegations of Having a Child via a Surrogate Mother

Jens Spahn, the parliamentary group leader of CDU/CSU, one of Germany's main opposition parties, resigned from his post following the backlash over having a child through surrogacy. According to reports in the German press, Spahn wrote a letter announcing his decision.

In recent days, it emerged that Spahn and his husband Daniel Funke had a child via a surrogate mother abroad. The fact that surrogacy is banned in Germany and Spahn's opposition to maintaining this ban as Health Minister in 2020 sparked a massive wave of criticism. According to information reported by the German DPA news agency, Chancellor Friedrich Merz openly called on his party colleague Spahn to resign. This political pressure and public criticism accelerated Spahn's decision to step down from his position.