Henning Otte sworn in as new Armed Forces Commissioner in Germany

The new Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, Henning Otte (CDU), has been sworn in by the Bundestag. The 56-year-old took the oath in the plenary session on Thursday before Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU). Otte was elected by the Bundestag at the end of May. He succeeded SPD politician Eva Högl, whose term of office ended on May 25.

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Otte's motto for his term in office was "What the Bundeswehr really needs." It needs more of everything, Otte told broadcasters RTL and ntv. "It needs personnel, it needs equipment, but it also needs skills."

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On the Phoenix TV channel, Otte announced that he would closely monitor the decision of the coalition government's coalition partner, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/SPD), to increase the Bundeswehr's personnel through a volunteer model and, if necessary, advocate for mandatory service. "For me, if there is a need to switch from voluntary to mandatory service, for the protection of the troops, then I will demand it," Otte said.

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He therefore anticipates a renewed debate on the reinstatement of conscription. "To see how we can build up the personnel base, develop capabilities, but also free the Bundeswehr from administrative burdens," Otte said on RTL and ntv. He emphasized, however, that voluntary participation should be the guiding principle.

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There are no more excuses for the Federal Ministry of Defense, Otte continued. "Saying there isn't enough money no longer counts; instead, the ministry's benefits must now also reach the soldiers," Otte demanded on "Phoenix," referring to the extensive exemption for defense spending from the debt brake. 

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The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces acts as an independent oversight body and is considered the advocate for soldiers. The office of the Parliamentary Commissioner is enshrined in the Basic Law and is designed as an independent oversight body. The collected findings on problems and grievances within the military are published annually in a comprehensive report.

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Otte has been a member of the Bundestag since 2005 – since 2009 as a directly elected representative for the Celle-Uelzen constituency. After school, the Lower Saxon trained as a reserve officer in a tank battalion. 

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A trained savings bank clerk and lawyer, he served as defense policy spokesperson for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag from 2014 to 2021 and, in the last legislative period, as deputy head of the Defense Committee and parliamentary group spokesperson for rural areas. He is also a member of the CDU Federal Executive Board.