German politician resigns over surrogacy child controversy

Core point

German politician Jens Spahn has resigned as parliamentary group leader following criticism over his use of a surrogate mother. Surrogacy is illegal in Germany, but raising a child born to a surrogate abroad is permitted. Chancellor Friedrich Merz supported Spahn's decision, emphasizing the importance of credibility in politics. The CDU reaffirmed its support for the surrogacy ban earlier this year, and Spahn had previously rejected calls to relax the ban.