World
Jens Spahn (CDU): U.S. Surrogate Parenthood Announcement Triggers Internal Party Crisis
On July 15, 2026, Daniel Funke, husband of CDU deputy Jens Spahn, announced the couple became parents through a U.S. surrogate—a practice banned in Germany and rejected by the CDU's February 2026 congress. The revelation triggered a party crisis: two CDU officials demanded Spahn resign from his position as head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed on July 17 that the surrogacy ban would remain unchanged. Spahn said he would let the parliamentary group decide his future in September 2026.