German politician Jens Spahn resigns over a surrogate child in a same-sex marriage

Jens Spahn, the 46-year-old parliamentary leader of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), announced his resignation. The decision was made following criticism from his fellow party members after the politician and his husband had a child via a surrogate mother in the United States.

Surrogacy is banned in Germany, though the law permits raising children born this way abroad. However, the CDU has consistently opposed the legalization of surrogacy, reaffirming this stance in a vote in February 2026.

In his statement, Spahn noted that his personal happiness from starting a family is incompatible with his political office. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called his ally’s resignation “right and unavoidable,” emphasizing the importance of political credibility and maintaining the party’s position on the issue.