German politician faces calls to resign over surrogacy child
German politician Jens Spahn is facing calls to resign after revealing he used a surrogate mother in the US to have a child. Critics argue this demonstrates double standards, as Spahn has previously supported Germany's strict ban on surrogacy.
Why it matters
The case highlights the ongoing ethical and legal debate regarding surrogacy laws in Europe and the expectations of political consistency.
Image source, Tristar Media/Getty Images Image caption, Jens Spahn (R) is accused of adopting double standards as he has opposed legalising surrogacy in the past
German centre-right politician Jens Spahn has been accused of double standards, after he revealed he and his husband had become parents using a surrogate mother in the US.
Surrogacy is banned in Germany - a policy firmly backed by his Christian Democrat party, and several years ago by Spahn himself.
Although there is no German ban on bringing up a child born to a surrogate mother abroad, Spahn, 46, has been criticised by politicians from several parties, including his own.
"Politicians who set standards for others must be measured by them too," said Marion Rosin, a Christian Democrat in Thuringia and part of the Women's Union. "If that credibility is gone, resignation is a matter of consequence."
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