Increased Pressure from the Union on Mandatory Enlistment - Majority Expresses Support
Cranking Up the Military Heat: Union'\'s Push for Compulsory Service vs. SPD's Take It Slow Approach. Youth Outcry and Public Opinion in the Mix.
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Berlin - As the looming threat from Russia intensifies, the Union is upping the ante on their coalition partner SPD to make a swift decision concerning the reinstatement of compulsory military service. "We can't afford to wait until it's too late," said Chancellery Chief Thorsten Frei in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur. The key issue revolves around significantly expanding the Bundeswehr and the need for a clear, unified alliance agreement. The SPD, however, seems unruffled by the sense of urgency.
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Klingbeil Agrees to Setup for Compulsory Service
To meet the ambitious increase in troop numbers, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil initially advocates for continued voluntary recruitment and incentives like a free driver's license. Yet, Klingbeil is open to laying groundwork for mandatory service. Critical steps in this direction include establishing sufficient recruitment centers, barracks, and trainers.
Klingbeil's stand places him in a tricky position within his own party, which will hold a conference next week. Their coalition agreement outlines a service initially based on volunteering. SPD parliamentary group leader Matthias Miersch interprets this as a commitment to no immediate return of compulsory military service before the next federal election.
Juso Chairman on Dangerous Ground
Juso chairman Philipp Türmer refers to the coalition agreement as well. "Given the agreement, preparing a draft inviting compulsory service is inappropriate," he told Spiegel. Such a move is "a solution from the past, not a future solution." Türmer argues that it infringes upon the lives of young people and the advantages remain questionable.
Klingbeil clarifies that there will be no return to the old-fashioned conscription that drafted all eligible young men. Yet, this hasn't been the case since the suspension of conscription in 2011, with the number of those being released from service skyrocketing in the preceding years, even among potential servicemen deemed fit for the Bundeswehr[1].
The desired size of the Bundeswehr currently stands at 203,000 soldiers - but this number may only be achievable through voluntary enlistment. According to Pistorius' requirement, the force must now expand to between 230,000 and 240,000 soldiers[2].
Frei Has Serious Doubts About Sufficient Troops via Voluntary Service.Frei doubts the feasibility of achieving this expansion through voluntary enlistment. "First, we must agree upon the timeline for achieving this goal," said the Chief of the Chancellor's Office. "Then we must consider how much time we can afford to take to accomplish this aim using a voluntary-only approach. In my personal view, I'd say we barely have any time for this, considering the severity of the situation."
Poll: Majority in Favor of Compulsory Service Restoration
Majority support exists for the reinstatement of compulsory military service. A survey by the polling institute YouGov on behalf of dpa reports that a total of 54 percent believe compulsory service in the German Armed Forces should return. 36 percent support compulsory service for both men and women, while 18 percent only want men to be conscripted, as in the past[3]. Only 40 percent believe military service should remain voluntary.
Implementation of a return to compulsory service for men alone could be carried out by the black-red coalition independently. However, expanding conscription to women would require a change to the Basic Law, which requires a two-thirds majority. The black-red coalition would need the support of both the Greens and the Left for this[4]. Yet, the Left Party is fundamentally opposed to conscription[5].
Only Left Party Voters Primarily Oppose Compulsory Service
According to the YouGov survey, 69 percent of Left Party voters are in favor of maintaining voluntary military service. In contrast, a majority of voters of all other parties represented in the Bundestag support reinstating compulsory service. Among CDU/CSU voters, it is 68 percent, and among SPD voters, it is 64 percent. Among AfD supporters, it is 55 percent, and among Green voters, it is 51 percent[6].
Support for compulsory service grows with age. While only one-third (35 percent) in the age group between 18 and 29 supports it, the proportion rises to two-thirds (66 percent) among those over 70[6].
Sören Pellmann, Parliamentary Leader of the Left Party, Slams the Government's Plans.Pellmann criticized that the Union and SPD's strategies are detrimental to the younger generation. "The youth will feel the effects of this further militarization of society in the long run," he said to dpa. "Thus, they rightly reject compulsory military service by a large majority."
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- The ongoing politics surrounding policy-and-legislation about the reinstatement of compulsory military service in Germany is a general-news topic, with the majority (54%) of the public in favor of this change according to a YouGov poll.
- The push for compulsory service by the Union, as a response to the looming threat from Russia, is causing debate within the SPD, with party leader Lars Klingbeil expressing an openness to laying groundwork for mandatory service but clashing with Juso chairman Philipp Türmer, who argues against it as a solution from the past.
