Kühnert Bats Against Compulsory Service for Bundeswehr
In the ongoing debate about the potential return of compulsory military service to tackle the Bundeswehr's personnel shortage, Kevin Kühnert, the SPD's General Secretary, voices his opposition. Kühnert, speaking to the Rheinische Post newspaper, asserts, "I support the Bundeswehr becoming a more alluring workplace to compete on the job market. The idea of conscripting adults for military service, however, is highly questionable, not just from a constitutional perspective."
Kühnert's stance contradicts that of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who is reportedly considering various models of compulsory service, including the Swedish model where only a select few are drafted for basic military training. In response, Kühnert emphasizes that he does not see the SPD embracing such models.
FDP's Dürr Advocates for Strengthened Reserves
The compulsory military service idea has also been met with skepticism from the FDP. FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr opines, "Reintroducing compulsory service would infringe significantly on young people's freedoms, pursuing careers. Besides, the Bundeswehr no longer functions as a draft-based military." Instead, Dürr calls for strengthening the reserve force and enhancing the Bundeswehr's equipment.
The reserve force, mainly consisting of former Bundeswehr soldiers, has around 930,000 members in the general reserve and 34,000 in the commissioned reserve, according to Bundeswehr estimates. Dürr's focus on the reserve force can help modernize and strengthen a more effective Bundeswehr by integrating more practitioners and professionals.
Rising Defense Costs Acknowledged
Kühnert acknowledges the constant rise in military spending, with the political commitment to dedicate 2% of Germany's gross domestic product to defense. But Kühnert reiterates that this is a result of global developments beyond Germany's control.
Relevant Insights
- Party Positions: While source material does not provide explicit positions, the SPD and FDP have shown historical leanings that might inform their stance on compulsory military service. The SPD generally favors social programs, while the FDP focuses on economic growth and a strong European Union partnership.
- Bundeswehr's Future: With both parties emphasizing the need to make the Bundeswehr more appealing, understanding what drew people away from military service could help develop long-term strategies.
The SPD, under its General Secretary Kühnert, and the FDP, with parliamentary leader Dürr, oppose the potential introduction of compulsory military service to tackle the Bundeswehr's personnel crisis. Instead, they advocate for strengthening the reserve force and improving the Bundeswehr's equipment, acknowledging rising defense costs due to global developments.
