Wire flash
PoliticsMerz and Söder agree to appoint Thorsten Frei as new Union parliamentary group leader
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
According to consistent media reports, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder have agreed to appoint Thorsten Frei (CDU) as the new Union parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag. Frei, 52, currently serves as Head of the Chancellery. The decision follows the resignation of Jens Spahn on Saturday after massive criticism over his fatherhood via a surrogate mother in the USA, a practice banned in Germany. Spahn, a powerful figure in the black-red coalition, faced accusations of double standards for previously advocating a ban on surrogacy. Merz and Söder plan to inform the parliamentary group executive board about the status of the search. It remains unclear who will succeed Frei as head of the Chancellery. The election was originally scheduled for next week but may be moved forward.
Source report
Friedrich Merz and Thorsten Frei (both CDU) in the Federal Cabinet. Source: REUTERS/Christian Mang
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder have reportedly agreed to appoint Thorsten Frei (CDU) as the new Union parliamentary group leader in the Bundestag, according to consistent media reports from Bild and ZDF. Frei, 52, currently serves as Head of the Chancellery.
Succession and Timeline
It remains unclear who will succeed Frei as Head of the Chancellery. On Wednesday morning, Reuters reported that Merz and Söder planned to inform the parliamentary group executive board about the current status of the search.
Merz and Söder had previously announced their intention to make a joint proposal. On Tuesday, the Chancellor stated this would happen "soon." The election of the new Union parliamentary group leader was originally scheduled for next week.
Background: Spahn's Resignation
The vacancy follows the resignation of Jens Spahn on Saturday, after facing massive criticism over his fatherhood through a surrogate mother in the USA. Surrogacy is prohibited in Germany but permitted in the United States.
Spahn, a key figure in the black-red coalition, had been accused within the CDU of late communication and double standards. He had previously advocated for a ban on surrogacy in Germany, yet chose this path for his own desire to have children. He resigned under pressure from Merz.
More shortly
Source
Nachrichten - WELTWestern
Part of this Story
German CDU leader Jens Spahn resigns after surrogacy scandal