Stefan Evers, the CDU standard-bearer for the Berlin House of Representatives election, stated that men should not be the ones to drive the debate surrounding surrogacy. Instead, he argued, it is the concern of women since their bodies are ultimately involved.
In an interview with the television channel “Welt,” he emphasized, “I believe it is not first up to us men to advance this debate-and that the desire for a child from a queer couple, a couple with no chance of having biological children, should not be the driving force behind this debate either.” He felt the discussion must be led by those directly affected: “It concerns women’s bodies, maternity, and the relationship between mother and child. That is why I humbly step back from this issue.” Evers also made clear that, personally, he does not view surrogacy as a viable option.
According to Evers, since the resignation of Jens Spahn, the political and social discussion has gained clarity regarding “the essential.” He identified the core conflict: “The essential point of this matter is indeed the underlying ethical conflict between the desire for a child of a couple unable to have biological children, and the fact that we in Germany, for good reasons, and we in the CDU, for good reasons, oppose surrogacy.”
Evers is not pushing for any change to the legal framework for surrogacy that is tolerated internationally. He considers this ethically extremely difficult, noting that ultimately, the main challenge remains figuring out how to cope when a child is born under these circumstances. He believes society must continue to manage and endure this complex tension. However, he was quick to clarify that this does not imply that everything should be permitted domestically; rather, he asserted that Germany has its own convictions and stances on certain issues. These viewpoints influence the legislation and the party’s decision-making processes. He reaffirmed his support for this stance, as does the CDU branch in Berlin.
