Germany's coalition factions, Union and SPD, have reportedly reached a compromise on the government's highly debated proposal for a new model of military service. The plan aims to reintroduce an element of compulsion to secure staffing for the Bundeswehr after years of relying solely on volunteers. The Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) reported that the core of the compromise centers on a lottery system to determine which young men undergo examination for potential service.
Under the emerging framework, all young men will first be required to fill out a mandatory questionnaire providing personal details. Following this initial step, only a portion of these individuals will be randomly selected via lottery to proceed to an official military examination (Musterung) and interview. According to the RND, this targeted approach is intended to significantly limit the organizational complexity and effort associated with mass examinations. Furthermore, it proactively addresses potential political criticism regarding fairness and equality in recruitment.
The primary objective remains filling service positions voluntarily. However, should the Bundeswehr fail to attract enough volunteers to meet defence requirements, those individuals selected via the lottery could subsequently be obliged to complete a compulsory military service lasting a minimum of six months. This system is modeled after the existing military service structure in Denmark, where conscription is universal in principle, but only about one-fifth of those eligible are ultimately drafted.
Public opinion in Germany appears largely supportive of reintroducing conscription. A new Forsa survey for Stern magazine found that 54 percent of respondents favor reinstating mandatory service in the Bundeswehr, while 41 percent oppose it and five percent remain undecided.
Support is strongest among older Germans (aged 60 and above), with 61 percent in favor, whereas 63 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds, those most directly affected, oppose the measure. Politically, Union voters show the highest support (74 percent), followed by SPD supporters (58 percent). In contrast, 80 percent of Left Party voters reject the idea of reintroducing compulsory military service.
Both coalition factions are expected to discuss the compromise on Tuesday, with a public announcement scheduled for Wednesday. The first parliamentary reading could take place as early as Thursday. Although conscription in Germany was suspended in 2011, it was never formally abolished. The new proposal marks a significant shift as the government considers partially reinstating compulsory service to strengthen the Bundeswehr’s recruitment and national defense capacity.
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