Merz nominates Thorsten Frei to lead CDU/CSU lawmakers

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz nominated Thorsten Frei to lead the CDU/CSU alliance in parliament after Jens Spahn stepped down from the post following criticism over his use of a surrogate mother in the United States.

Merz said Frei, who is chief of the chancellery and minister for special tasks, should take over as head of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. The group is due to elect its new leader at a special meeting next Wednesday.

Spahn resigned as chairman of the centre-right parliamentary faction over the weekend after growing criticism. Surrogacy is banned in Germany, and the CDU/CSU has opposed efforts to legalise it, including through a resolution at a party conference in February.

German media reported last week that a baby had been born through a surrogate mother for Spahn and his husband. Bild reported that at the time of the February party resolution, a woman in the United States was already several months pregnant with a child she was carrying for the couple. The reports led to accusations of hypocrisy, and some CDU/CSU colleagues called for Spahn to step down.

Spahn initially defended his decision, saying he had considered the issue for a long time before deciding to have a child with his husband through a surrogate. On Saturday, he submitted his resignation, writing to colleagues that his personal happiness as a new father was incompatible with his political office.

Merz praised Spahn but said his resignation was right and unavoidable. Merz credited Frei with playing a decisive role in the government's work so far and with helping ensure stability in the coalition with the centre-left SPD. Bavarian state premier Markus Soeder, who leads the CSU, said Frei would be a good chairman for the parliamentary group.

Frei, 52, is described as a close confidante of Merz and an influential figure among CDU/CSU lawmakers. He is a conservative from southwestern Germany, has served in parliament since 2013, was deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary faction from 2018 to 2021 and served as chief whip from 2021 to 2025.