Britta Haßelmann, co-faction chairwoman of the Greens, stated that the recent events surrounding former Union faction leader Jens Spahn underscore the necessity of reopening the discussion on reproductive medicine. Haßelmann commented to the Funke Media Group newspapers that Spahn’s resignation was entirely justifiable. She added that the current societal debates highlight the importance of engaging again with the findings of the commissioned body on reproductive self-determination and medicine.
The interdisciplinary commission, established by the Ampel government during the last legislative period, thoroughly examined the existing regulations regarding abortion, as well as the state of egg donation and surrogacy, analyzing them from psychosocial, medical, legal, and ethical perspectives. According to Haßelmann, this body intensely addressed matters concerning abortion and reproductive medicine. She emphasized that these recommendations provide a crucial foundation for a evidence-based public discourse on fundamental issues in society, politics, and parliament, asserting that the commission’s April 2024 report is too valuable to be ignored by the current coalition.
The commission originally concluded that while altruistic models could potentially lead to circumvention and abuse, the legislator could still permit altruistic surrogacy, albeit under very strict limits, given the fundamental rights of the surrogate mothers and the prospective parents.
Meanwhile, the SPD’s Working Group for Social Democratic Women (SPD-Frauen) is currently grappling with defining its official stance on surrogacy. Co-chair Ulrike Häfner told the Funke newspapers that the topic has been on their agenda since 2025, and they are preparing a position paper for the 2027 Federal Women’s Conference. Their current position suggests that the general prohibition of surrogacy should remain in place for ethical, practical, and legal reasons, though exceptions under limited conditions could be allowed. Häfner noted that the process of forming an opinion is far from complete, and the SPD-Frauen fundamentally object to the increasing commercialization of women in reproductive medicine and the exploitation of their financial vulnerabilities.
The Left faction in the Bundestag also points to a potential financial imbalance between the surrogate mother and the intended parent couple. Kathrin Gebel, the Left’s spokesperson for women in the Bundestag, told the Funke Media Group newspapers that wealthy individuals frequently benefit from the financial difficulties of others. Consequently, she rejects commercial surrogacy and views even altruistic variations critically, arguing that health risks, dependencies, and familial pressures would not automatically vanish simply because no money is officially exchanged.
