Jens Spahn faces political pressure over Sardinia trip

German CDU politician Jens Spahn is facing intense internal pressure following reports that he traveled to Sardinia during a parliamentary session week. While Spahn was officially excused from the Budget Committee meetings due to his child's illness, photos published by the Bild newspaper appeared to show him at an airport in Olbia with his family.

The discrepancy led to significant unrest within the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, with several members of the Budget Committee calling for his removal from the committee. Spahn's spokesperson clarified that he was present in Berlin on other days of that week and that his absence on Tuesday and Wednesday was excused for family reasons, with proper substitution arranged.

Following an extraordinary meeting of the Union's budget working group, Spahn reportedly requested a “last chance” to remain in his position. New parliamentary leader Thorsten Frei intervened to prevent an immediate expulsion, resulting in a probationary period that allows Spahn to remain in the committee until the end of the year, provided no further incidents occur.