Germany is nearing the reinstatement of military service after 14 years.
The German parliament (Bundestag) opened a heated discussion on a new military service bill that could reshape the country's defense policy. The proposed legislation, led by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, aims to modernize the German army (Bundeswehr) and double its personnel over the next decade. The project initially relies on voluntary recruitment but leaves the door open for mandatory service if recruitment goals are not met.
The law is set to come into effect in 2026, but disputes within the ruling coalition have already caused confusion. Earlier this week, reports leaked indicating that the government had agreed on a mandatory conscription system based on a lottery, before the supposed announcement was canceled at the last minute. This event sparked public outrage and intensified political division. Outside the parliament building, activists from Greenpeace and the German Peace Society organized protests, holding banners demanding the complete cancellation of the plan.
In his speech before the parliament, Boris Pistorius described the discussion as "the next logical step" to enhance Germany's defense capabilities, especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He confirmed that the current proposal focuses on voluntary service, but acknowledged that mandatory service may become necessary if numbers remain low. He said, "If voluntary recruitment is not sufficient, there will be no alternative but to impose some form of obligation," stressing that any decision of this kind would require parliamentary approval.
On their part, members of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), including defense expert Thomas Erndle, defended the idea of conscription by lottery as a fair and practical contingency plan. They emphasized that the government should prepare for the possibility of not achieving the required voluntary recruitment targets. However, members of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), including Pistorius, currently rejected this idea, considering it immature and unclear. This disagreement between the leaders of the two parties revealed the deep division within the coalition regarding how to rebuild the military's strength.
Germany aims to expand the number of Bundeswehr personnel to 460,000 by 2035, including 260,000 permanent soldiers and 200,000 reservists. The current number of army personnel is about 182,000. Under the new plan, all men aged eighteen will receive a questionnaire in 2026 asking about their willingness to serve, and the response will be mandatory. Women will receive the same questionnaire, but without a mandatory response. Although compulsory conscription was suspended in 2011, the legal framework allowing its reinstatement still exists. It can be reactivated with a simple majority in parliament, but expanding it to include women requires a two-thirds majority, which the current governing coalition does not have.