Thorsten Frei elected CDU/CSU faction leader in secret Berlin vote

On Wednesday the CDU/CSU parliamentary group convened in the Bundestag plenary chamber – normally reserved for full parliamentary debates – because its regular meeting room is closed for renovations. The gathering was called to select a successor to Jens Spahn, who stepped down as faction chair after criticism of his decision to have a child via surrogacy in the United States, a practice illegal in Germany. The group elected former chief of staff to the chancellor, Thorsten Frei, in a confidential ballot that requires a presence of at least half of the 208 CDU/CSU members. Over half of the faction’s MPs travelled from their constituencies or vacations at personal expense, as they are equipped with a BahnCard 100 and do not receive reimbursement. The new leader’s election aims to provide a strong mandate for the party ahead of upcoming legislative sessions.