Cranking Up the Heat: SPD Feels the Union's Pressure to Reinstate Conscription - Majority in Favor
The Lowdown:
Compulsory military service intensifies support - Most prefer it - Increased Push Towards Mandatory Enlistment: Public Support Prevails
In the face of mounting tension from Russia, Germany's allies at NATO are urging a rapid expansion of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), pushing the coalition partner SPD to make a quick decision about the reintroduction of conscription. "We can't afford to twiddle our thumbs until the clock runs out," thundered Thorsten Frei, Chief of Staff, in an interview with German Press Agency. The black-red coalition needs to settle on a clear timeline for adjusting their strategy to achieve a widely recognized goal—boosting the Bundeswehr's size.
Klingbeil On-Board with Prep for Conscription, but Draws the Line at All Male Draft
To meet the increased soldier count, SPD leader Lars Klingbeil intends to initially continue with voluntary service and incentives such as a free driver's license. However, he's ready to start laying the groundwork for mandatory service. The government should "already prepare the stage so that conscription could also be possible," Klingbeil shared with Neue Berliner Redaktionsgesellschaft, specifying the necessary recruitment centers, barracks, and trainers.
Klingbeil underlined that reintroducing the draft won't revert to the method of enlisting every able young man: "That strategy was defunct even before the suspension of conscription in 2011." The number of conscripts had skyrocketed in the years leading up, and even among those fit for duty in the Bundeswehr, a vast majority were never drafted. Fairness in conscription was a hot topic back then.
Pistorius Insists on a Hike to up to 240,000 Troops
The Bundeswehr's current target force size is 203,000 soldiers—but even this may not be achievable through voluntary recruitment, according to Pistorius. He advocates that the force must now swell to 230,000 to 240,000 soldiers.
Frei finds it challenging to visualize that this increase can be met through a voluntary service model. It's crucial first to agree on the necessary timeframe to reach the new target size, Frei opined. "I'd be hard-pressed to imagine that we'd have enough time to achieve this objective through voluntary means, given the magnitude of the threat we're facing."
Frei and Miersch Take Opposite Sides
In the coalition agreement, the Union and SPD agreed on a service primarily based on volunteering. Matthias Miersch, SPD Fraktion Chief, interpreted this as ruling out any reintroduction of conscription before the next federal election.
However, Frei told German Press Agency that this contradicts the agreements in the coalition negotiations and disagrees with Pistorius' statements. If the current route of volunteering doesn't lead to the desired outcome, "it'd only make sense to explore other options."
The People Speak: Eager to Resurrect Mandatory Service for Men
The return to mandatory service for men could be initiated by the black-red coalition alone. To extend conscription to women, however, the Basic Law would need an amendment by a two-thirds majority, requiring the support of the Greens and the Left.
According to a survey by polling institute YouGov commissioned by German Press Agency, 54 percent of the populace endorses the idea of reinstating a duty to serve in the Bundeswehr. Among them, 36 percent advocate for conscription for both men and women, while 18 percent believe solely men should be conscripted. On the other hand, 40 percent think military service should remain voluntary.
Left Party Leads Anti-Conscription Sentiment
Although Left party voters predominantly oppose reinstating conscription (69%), a majority of voters from all other parties in the Bundestag endorse the return of mandatory military service. Among CDU and CSU voters, it's 68 percent, and for SPD voters, it's 64 percent. Furthermore, among AfD supporters, 55 percent are in favor of conscription, and among Green voters, it's 51 percent.
Age Widens the Divide
While only one-third (35%) of those aged 18 to 29 support conscription, two-thirds (66%) of those over 70 back the initiative.
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- In the ongoing discussions surrounding the expansion of the Bundeswehr, the topic of comprehensive vocational training for military personnel has emerged as a key aspect, with the SPD and Union agreeing on its importance to ensure the readiness of the armed forces in the face of expanding roles and obligations.
- Policy-and-legislation regarding war-and-conflicts and politics is likely to see a significant shift as the government deliberates on policy changes related to employment policy, either through voluntary or mandatory service, with a potential impact on community policy, given the potential recruitment and training of a larger pool of service members via vocational training programs.
