German Politician Jens Spahn Resigns Over Surrogacy Controversy

Sun Sep 06 2026 09:22:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Jens Spahn steps down as CDU parliamentary leader after media backlash over using a surrogate mother abroad, exposing Germany’s tight stance on the practice.

Jens Spahn, a high‑profile member of Germany’s ruling coalition, has resigned as parliamentary group leader following criticism of his decision to have a child through surrogacy in the United States. The move comes as the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) maintains a strict ban on domestic surrogacy, yet accepts children born abroad. Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised the resignation as inevitable, underscoring the need for credibility in politics. The case has sparked broader debate over national surrogacy laws and the balance between personal choice and party policy, with comparable bans now emerging in France, Spain, and Italy.

German Politician Jens Spahn Resigns Over Surrogacy Controversy

The deputy health minister announced his resignation from the parliamentary group leadership just a few days after revealing that he and his husband had welcomed a child through a surrogate mother in the United States.

Surrogacy is currently forbidden in Germany, a rule that the CDU has repeatedly defended. However, the law does allow children born abroad to be recognized as the couple’s own.

Spahn said he could no longer juggle “personal happiness” with the responsibilities of his parliamentary role, and that the tension had become too great. Media reports highlighted the perceived double standard, as he had opposed legalisation of surrogacy while being a parent through the practice.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the resignation, stressing that political credibility is paramount and that a successor would be selected soon.

The incident reignites debates about Germany’s restrictive laws on surrogacy, echoing similar legislative positions across other EU nations such as France, Spain and Italy.