Jens Spahn, the German centre‑right politician and former health minister, has resigned as parliamentary group leader of the ruling coalition.
This decision follows revelations that Spahn and his husband, Daniel Funke, used a surrogate mother in the United States to conceive a child. The operation is illegal in Germany, and the CDU – Spahn’s home party – has long advocated a strict ban on surrogacy.
Spahn explained that his personal decision to start a family was not compatible with his public role, calling the situation a “deep pause for thought.” Chancellor Friedrich Merz praised the resignation, noting that credibility is paramount in politics.
Spahn’s resignation comes at a time when the CDU faces declining poll numbers and upcoming regional elections that could be affected by the controversy. Several opposition parties have highlighted his hypocrisy to stir public dissent.
Germany is not unique; France, Spain, and Italy also prohibit surrogacy, and France’s Court of Cassation has recently ruled that children born through foreign surrogacy be legally recognized as the intended parents’ offspring.
In Italy, a 2024 decree bans Italians from abroad using surrogacy, reflecting a broader EU trend toward tightening reproductive laws.
In the context of these international developments, Spahn’s resignation illustrates the clash between personal choices and public policy, raising questions about the future of surrogacy legislation in Europe.
