BERLIN — Germany’s ruling conservative bloc is preparing to install a trusted ally of Chancellor Friedrich Merz as the new leader of its parliamentary faction, party officials confirmed Wednesday. The announcement follows the sudden departure of prominent party figure Jens Spahn, who stepped down amid backlash over his use of a surrogate mother to have a child.
Thorsten Frei, who currently serves as the head of Merz’s chancellery, will step into the parliamentary leadership role vacated by Spahn, according to two conservative party sources and a member of the Social Democrats who each spoke with Reuters. The Bild newspaper had reported the news earlier. A government spokesperson declined to offer any comment on the planned appointment.
Spahn, 46, who led the parliamentary group for Merz’s Christian Democratic Union and its sister party, the Christian Social Union — together known as the CDU/CSU — announced his resignation on Saturday. The controversy erupted after it became public that he and his husband had welcomed a baby through a surrogate mother based in the United States. That decision put Spahn directly at odds with his own party’s stance against surrogacy. Spahn had previously been considered a potential rival to Merz for party leadership.
While surrogacy is banned inside Germany, it is not against the law for individuals to raise a child born via surrogacy in another country. The CDU reaffirmed its position against surrogacy within Germany’s borders at its party conference this past February.
Frei has long been a close confidant of Merz and, in his current chancellery role, has been responsible for coordinating the day-to-day business of the government. That work has come under scrutiny during what has been a turbulent first year for the coalition. German media have reported internal complaints — at a time when public support for Merz and his administration is low — that coordination between the chancellery, government ministries, parliamentary groups, and coalition partners has frequently fallen short.
Those who support Frei’s move to the parliamentary post argue he is better suited for it, pointing to his strong relationships within the faction. Meanwhile, officials said discussions are still underway to determine who will take over his current role leading the chancellery.
