German CDU Leader Jens Spahn Resigns Amid Surrogacy Controversy

Jens Spahn, the parliamentary group leader for Germany's ruling CDU/CSU party, has announced his resignation. The decision follows public outcry after it was revealed that Spahn and his partner, Daniel Funke, had a child via a surrogate mother abroad. Surrogacy is illegal in Germany, and Spahn, in his previous role as Health Minister, had opposed its legalization in 2020. The controversy intensified because Spahn, as a public figure and former Health Minister, seemingly circumvented a law he was responsible for upholding. Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly urged Spahn to step down after learning of the situation only last week, with the rest of the party discovering it through the press. Spahn's attempts to defend himself, primarily through his preferred media outlet Bild, reportedly exacerbated concerns about his credibility and the perception that he placed himself above the law. This departure is considered a significant blow to the CDU/CSU, particularly as it comes shortly before important state elections in East Germany and disrupts a period of relative calm within the coalition government, which had recently reached agreements on key reforms.