Germany’s CDU party chair resigns after using surrogacy to become parent
Jens Spahn has resigned as leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group after facing intense criticism over becoming a father through surrogacy abroad, a practice that his own party strongly opposes.
The resignation marks a major political setback for Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU – Christian Democratic Union). Spahn, one of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's closest allies, announced he was stepping down after growing pressure from party members and the public. The controversy erupted after it became known that he and his husband, Daniel Funke, had welcomed a child through a surrogate mother in the United States.
Surrogacy remains illegal in Germany under the Embryo Protection Act, and the CDU reaffirmed its opposition to the practice earlier this year. Critics accused Spahn of hypocrisy because, while serving as Germany's health minister, he had publicly defended the country's ban on surrogacy. Although having a child through legal surrogacy abroad is not itself illegal for German parents, many argued that his personal actions conflicted with his political position.
As criticism intensified, senior figures within the CDU questioned whether Spahn could continue leading the parliamentary group while facing accusations of double standards. The debate quickly shifted beyond his personal life, with many politicians arguing that public trust depends on leaders acting consistently with the policies they promote. Chancellor Friedrich Merz ultimately backed Spahn's decision to resign, calling it the appropriate course of action.
In his resignation statement, Spahn acknowledged that starting a family with his husband had created an unavoidable conflict with his political responsibilities. He said his commitment to his family had to come first, even if it meant leaving one of Germany's most powerful political positions. The CDU must now choose a new parliamentary leader as it prepares for upcoming political challenges and regional elections.