Return to compulsory conscription? Union is preparing Germany for new times!
Return to compulsory conscription? Union is preparing Germany for new times!
Deutschland - In Germany, the discussion about reintroduction of conscription is getting louder. Jens Spahn, the Union faction leader, has recently asked that the Bundeswehr should prepare for a possible return to compulsory military service. He believes that the defense capacity of the Federal Republic makes a structural change necessary. According to the [BR] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/union-will-deutschland-auf-wehr- preparation ,uo4coFOFE) could be needed up to 60,000 additional soldiers.
The need for conscription is particularly noticeable in order to achieve a critical troop strength. In the event of a consideration in this direction, Spahn expressly refers to men, since the old conscription was only for them - a fact that is anchored in the Basic Law. However, it is also discussed about the possibility of expanding conscription to women, which is supported by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU). Their argument is to take into account the demographic change and the associated decline in births.
public opinion and political support
Interestingly, according to a current survey by ARD Germany trend, 72 percent of the population supports the reintroduction of military or civil servants, and the inclusion of women is also considered meaningful by many. Nevertheless, the views on conscription among the population parts are different. For example, 58 percent of Germans support compulsory military service, but among the 18 to 29 year olds it is only 39 percent who are for it, like that SPIEGEL reported.The political landscape in Germany shows a similar picture: Bundestag President Julia Klöckner and others in the Union support the idea of a service to the general public. At the same time, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has given the prospect of examining a reform of the military service in order to prepare a draft law for reintroduction. This draft law is expected to contain a two-stage model that first relies on voluntariness and could provide a later coordination on return to conscription if the goals are not achieved.
prospects and challenges
The current debate on conscription has its origin in the changed security policy framework, especially since Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022. As reported clear up. The introduction of a quota duty obligation is also considered.
However, there are also critical voices from various areas, including the church youth associations. The military officer Henning Otte sees the return to classic conscription as not very useful and advocates a gradual structure of the required staff. The Bundeswehr currently lacks around 100,000 soldiers, which endangers their operational readiness. A mandatory service year for everyone, both men and women, is stimulated by the Union, while the SPD aims to introduce a new military service on a voluntary basis. In conclusion, it should be noted that the discussion about conscription in Germany has far -reaching social and political implications. It remains to be seen which decisions will be made in the coming months and whether the compulsory military service is actually reintroduced in any form.| Details | |
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