German centre-right politician Jens Spahn resigned on Saturday, July 18th, 2026, as parliamentary group leader of Germany's governing coalition following accusations of hypocrisy related to his use of a surrogate mother in the United States to have a child. Surrogacy is banned in Germany, a policy supported by Spahn's Christian Democrat party (CDU) and by Spahn himself in the past, although raising a child born via surrogacy abroad is permitted.

Spahn, 46, revealed earlier that he and his husband Daniel Funke had become parents through surrogacy abroad, which sparked criticism from politicians across several parties, including his own. In his resignation statement, Spahn said, "I have realised that my personal happiness - founding a family together with my husband and becoming a father - is not compatible with my political office."

He added, "The balancing act between my private decision to have a child through surrogacy and the understandable expectations placed on me as Chairman of our parliamentary group has become greater than I anticipated," and noted that the "increasing relentlessness in public discourse" had given him "deep pause for thought."

Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the CDU, described Spahn's decision as "right" and "inevitable," emphasizing on social media that "Credibility is the highest asset in politics," and announced the process to appoint Spahn's replacement would begin.

German media reported that Alexander Hoffmann, head of the Christian Social Union parliamentary group, will temporarily take over Spahn's duties until a successor is chosen. Hoffmann commented, "Jens Spahn's decision deserves the utmost respect."

Sources