German Politician Resigns Over Surrogacy Child Scandal

A German politician has resigned after being accused of hypocrisy over his use of a surrogate mother in the US to have a child.

Jens Spahn, the 46-year-old former health minister, stepped down as parliamentary group leader of the country's governing coalition on Saturday. In a statement, Spahn said: "I have realised that my personal happiness – founding a family together and becoming a father – is not compatible with my political office."

Spahn's decision comes after he revealed earlier this week that he and his partner have become parents through surrogacy. However, surrogacy is prohibited in Germany, a policy backed by his Christian Democrat party (CDU), which Spahn himself supported several years ago.

The CDU had reaffirmed its support for a ban on surrogacy in February, and Spahn had previously rejected calls to relax the ban. As health minister in 2020, he wrote that he found it "personally very hard to warm to the idea of a rented womb."

The use of a surrogate mother abroad is an important option for many couples in Germany, as surrogacy is punishable with three years imprisonment or a fine. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who leads the CDU, called Spahn's decision "right" and "inevitable," saying: "Credibility is the highest asset in politics."

The CDU will begin the process of appointing Spahn's replacement, with Alexander Hoffmann, head of the Christian Social Union parliamentary group, taking over Spahn's duties until a successor is chosen. Hoffmann said: "Jens Spahn's decision deserves the utmost respect."

Spahn's resignation has sparked debate about the ethics of surrogacy and the expectations placed on politicians. In his statement, he said: "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." He also urged politicians to remain human in their tone, saying: "Despite all clarity and decisiveness regarding the issues, let us always remain human in our tone."