(de-news.net) – CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder have nominated Chancellery Minister Thorsten Frei (CDU) to succeed the resigned Jens Spahn as chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group. A caucus vote is scheduled for July 29 as party leaders praise both Frei’s qualifications and Spahn’s record despite the circumstances surrounding his resignation.
Frei was chosen Wednesday by CDU leader and Chancellor Friedrich Merz and CSU leader Markus Söder to succeed the resigned Jens Spahn as chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. According to the CDU and multiple media outlets citing party sources, the proposal was first presented to the parliamentary executive board during a video conference before being formally submitted to the full caucus. Members of the parliamentary group are scheduled to vote on the nomination at a special session on July 29, a step that would formally install Frei in one of the coalition’s most influential parliamentary leadership positions.
Merz portrayed Frei as a figure capable of strengthening coordination among the Bundestag, the coalition partners, and the federal government, arguing that he had already played a significant role in maintaining the coalition’s stability and advancing the government’s recent reform agenda. Frei, who previously served as First Parliamentary Secretary before becoming Chancellery Minister, was presented as a leader with deep roots inside the parliamentary group and extensive experience managing relations between the executive and legislative branches. Söder endorsed the nomination, saying Frei’s record in both parliamentary and executive office had demonstrated his leadership abilities and had fostered close cooperation between the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU.
Spahn’s departure leaves Chancellery vacancy as coalition thanks outgoing chairman
The two party leaders also used the announcement to commend Spahn’s tenure at the head of the parliamentary group. Merz credited the outgoing chairman with helping to organize and consolidate the governing caucus during a politically challenging period while also making an important contribution to the development and advancement of the government’s recent reform initiatives. The remarks underscored the leadership’s effort to recognize Spahn’s role despite the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Spahn stepped down on Saturday after facing sustained criticism over his decision to become a father with his husband through surrogacy in the United States. Critics argued that the decision appeared inconsistent with his earlier public support for Germany’s prohibition on surrogacy, a position he had endorsed in 2015 and that the Health Ministry reaffirmed under his leadership in 2020. The controversy ultimately prompted his resignation from the parliamentary leadership, although the governing parties publicly expressed appreciation for his work in office. Meanwhile, internal party discussions are continuing over who will succeed Frei as head of the Chancellery, with no decision announced so far.
