German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in his role as CDU chairman, has called for the resignation of the Union (CDU/CSU) parliamentary group leader Jens Spahn. This is what the Deutsche Presse-Agentur learned from sources close to the party chairman. CDU politician Spahn came under pressure during the week because he and his husband became parents of a child through surrogacy in the United States. Surrogacy is prohibited by law in Germany and the CDU opposes its legalization.
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Merz brought Spahn’s case to the CDU leadership meeting, following internal criticism sparked by the choice of the CDU-CSU parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag to resort to surrogacy in the United States to become a father. The chancellor acknowledged that the matter raised “human, legal, social and ethical” issues involving many people, but reiterated that there is clear legislation in Germany: surrogacy is prohibited and the CDU, earlier this year, confirmed its opposition to the practice with a party congress vote.
Since Spahn’s fatherhood became known, the Union parliamentary group leader has been accused of inconsistency between his private choice and the political positions supported by the party, with some calls for resignation. “With surrogacy in the United States, Spahn deliberately circumvented the law in force in Germany,” Daniel Peters, CDU leader in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and member of the party’s federal leadership, told Bild. According to Peters, it would not be acceptable for Spahn to claim a distinction between his personal decisions and his role as a political representative of the CDU.
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