German Public Warming Up to Mandatory Military Service and Higher Defense Spending?
Expanded budget for military equipment?
Germans seem to be in favor of the federal government's decision to boost defense spending, according to an RTL/ntv trend barometer survey conducted by Forsa Institute. Around 70% of Germans think that Germany and other NATO countries' planned increase in defense spending is correct, as compared to only 26% who disagree.
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The support for the defense policy is widespread, with more West Germans (72%) expressing support compared to East Germans (67%). However, it's interesting to note that the backing is evident across all age groups. Union supporters lead the charge, followed by Green and SPD supporters. There's still a majority among Left and AfD supporters, albeit smaller.
The Debate over Conscription Rages On
The reintroduction of conscription has been a topic of interest, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius predicting the need for "around 50,000 to 60,000 additional soldiers." The current Bundeswehr force consists of about 180,000 soldiers. Interestingly, 59% of Germans are in favor of reinstating compulsory military service, while 37% oppose it.
Things Aren't as Black and White as They Seem
A closer look at the demographics shows that the under-30s and Left party supporters are primarily against the reintroduction of military service. On the flip side, Union party supporters and AfD supporters offer the strongest support for its return. However, it's essential to note that the new military service will remain voluntary for now, as Pistorius mentioned that capacities need to be expanded first.
Data was collected by the market and opinion research institute Forsa on behalf of RTL Germany on June 3 and 4, 2022. Sample size: 1000 respondents. Statistical error tolerance: plus/minus 3 percentage points.
While it seems that the public is warming up to increased defense spending and the potential return of conscription, the debate is far from over. The push for a stronger military presence is evident, but the path forward remains uncertain.
- Bundeswehr
- Boris Pistorius
- Conscription
- Surveys
- RTL/ntv Trend Barometer
[1] https://www.ntv.de/politik/boris-pistorius-wehrpflicht-konflikt-in-der-bundeswehr-article27179857.html][2] https://www.ntv.de/politik/henning-otte-wehrpflicht-vorlage-verteidigungsausschusssitzung-article27302405.html][3] https://www.spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/bundeswehr-geht-kriegsstationsfahigkeit-ernaechen-a-d53b7d64-401e-40dd-afe7-0fdc924179f3][4] https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2021-02/merz-defensaustgaben-bundeswehr-defizit-tief-denken-evolution-revision-krisendienstwehr]
- Despite the widespread German support for boosting defense spending and the potential reintroduction of conscription, the ongoing debate indicates that the path forward is uncertain, especially given the various opinions among different political parties and age groups.
- In the context of the proposed policies, it's worth considering how community and employment policies might respond to potential shifts in defense spending, military service, and politics, especially in relation to general news and international conflicts such as those in 'war-and-conflicts'.
