Negotiations between German parliamentary factions of the Union (CDU/CSU) and the SPD have collapsed, derailing a planned overhaul of military service regulations. The breakdown, reported extensively by German media outlets, highlights deep divisions within the governing coalition and casts doubt on the viability of broader defense reform.
A tentative agreement, brokered by Norbert Röttgen (CDU/CSU), Siemtje Möller (SPD), Falko Droßmann (SPD) and Thomas Erndl (CSU) and reportedly supported by faction leaders Jens Spahn (CDU) and Matthias Miersch (SPD), proposed a lottery system for conscription. If voluntary enlistment falls short, young men would be randomly selected for assessment, with a potential six-month military service obligation contingent upon suitability.
The proposal, however, met forceful opposition within the SPD. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, a prominent figure within the SPD, publicly distanced himself from the initiative, stating it was a “Union idea”. While emphasizing the principle of voluntary service, Pistorius reportedly advocated for a proactive assessment of all young men – potentially up to 300,000 per cohort annually – to preemptively establish a comprehensive database of fitness levels, ostensibly to mitigate potential legal challenges should a renewed general conscription be implemented in times of heightened geopolitical tension.
The abrupt collapse of negotiations has drawn sharp criticism from within the Union ranks. Norbert Röttgen launched a scathing rebuke of Pistorius, accusing him of deliberately undermining the legislative process and fostering internal chaos. “I cannot comprehend how a Defense Minister could so aggressively torpedo a legislative initiative and behave so destructively” Röttgen told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. He further commented to the Süddeutsche Zeitung that he had never witnessed a minister so directly obstruct a critical legislative endeavor within their own domain.
The incident underscores a broader trend of strategic discord within the German coalition government. While publicly committed to strengthening national defense, underlying disagreements regarding the balance between voluntary service and mandatory obligations and the scope of preventative assessment measures, are clearly creating significant friction. The SPD now faces internal pressure to reconcile its positions, while the Union has voiced concerns about the stability and effectiveness of the defense ministry’s leadership. The failure to reach consensus on military service reform effectively stalls a critical element of Germany’s evolving national security strategy.