A protracted internal debate within the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party regarding the reinstatement of compulsory military service appears to be nearing a resolution.
According to reports from “Welt”, the parliamentary group is currently deliberating a proposal titled “Securing Germany’s Defense Capability – Reinstating Compulsory Military Service”. The draft calls on the German government to reverse the suspension of compulsory military service in peacetime, a decision made in 2011.
The proposal has been signed by members of the party’s defense working group and, alongside other related initiatives, circulated to other working groups for consultation via the office of parliamentary manager Bernd Baumann. It is potentially slated for introduction to the Bundestag after the summer recess.
The drafted motion expresses concerns about the Bundeswehr’s (German Armed Forces) ability to fulfill its core mission of national defense. Specifically, it highlights the lack of sufficient expansion potential within the armed forces – a critical capability required to rapidly increase troop numbers in the event of a crisis or an existential threat of war.
Historically, AfD parliamentary group leader Tino Chrupalla has voiced opposition to raising the issue of reinstating compulsory military service, particularly during the ongoing war in Ukraine. He previously stated that the timing of demanding its return was “misplaced” given public concerns regarding Germany’s potential involvement in conflict. While acknowledging that compulsory military service remains a foundational principle within the AfD’s core program, he also recognized that the public visibility of this demand within current political discourse may be disruptive to some voters.