Sven Schulze, the Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, has sharply criticized the way the CDU responded to the controversy surrounding former faction leader Jens Spahn. While insisting that politics demands credibility, the CDU politician expressed surprise at the wording used by some critics. Speaking to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group, Schulze argued that some of the comments went far beyond what could be justified, even among those who held opposing views on the underlying matter.
Schulze reflected on his own family life, imagining how Jens Spahn’s child might read the discussions from the past few days. “Some of the remarks could be interpreted as: it would have been better if this child had never been born. That definitely goes too far,” he stated.
He affirmed that Spahn and his husband should be free to decide whether or not to start a family. However, Schulze acknowledged that there was considerable public criticism and negative feedback, often centering on accusations of hypocrisy. Because of this pressure, he was glad that Spahn quickly resolved the situation by stepping down.
Looking ahead to the future leadership of the faction, Schulze voiced his wish for a seamless continuation of Spahn’s role. He emphasized that Spahn played a crucial role that went far beyond public knowledge. “For us CDU state leaders and prime ministers, contact with the federal government often went through Jens Spahn. Therefore, this is a gap that needs to be filled.”
