Green party leader Felix Banaszak has publicly called for a personal explanation from Union parliamentary group boss Jens Spahn regarding the discussion surrounding surrogacy. Banaszak stated that Spahn’s private life appears to conflict with his political positioning on the issue. In an appearance on the “Stimme am Morgen” talk show from the TV channel “Die Welt,” Spahn acknowledged that he was available to answer questions on the topic and felt obliged to do so.
Banaszak noted that while he wishes Spahn and his husband well as a father, he wants to separate the personal level from the political evaluation. Nevertheless, he maintained that the political contradiction remains, emphasizing that individuals should align their actions with their stated political programs and expectations. He concluded by saying that this inconsistency is understandable as a source of irritation, especially within the Union and beyond.
Meanwhile, Stefan Evers, a top CDU candidate for Berlin, has distanced himself from Jens Spahn regarding surrogacy. Speaking to the “Tagesspiegel,” Evers stated that in his personal view, surrogacy would not be the right path. Like Spahn, Evers is married to a man. He acknowledged the delicate ethical tension surrounding the topic and the debate over legalizing surrogacy, noting it is a challenging political discussion. Evers candidly added that he believes “we men are the wrong people” to answer this question.
Sharp criticism came from Bettina Jarasch, chairwoman of the Green party in the Berlin House of Representatives. She described Spahn’s conduct toward the “Tagesspiegel” as “bigoted and hypocritical,” arguing that it is inconsistent to pay for a surrogate abroad while simultaneously polemically campaigning against surrogacy policies domestically.
